A wise, modern-day philosopher once said in a song “thirty is the new twenty”.  I’ve heard people say that our age is like wine, the older we get the “finer” we are.  I turned thirty a week ago and I hate these two statements.  Thirty is the new twenty?  Really?  I get tired, cold, angry, and gain weight a lot quicker now than a decade ago.  Fine wine?  Mm well, I have more wrinkles, white hairs, creaky bones, and more injury prone than I was a decade ago.  Wrong again.  All things point to the fact that things become worse as you age.  But at the end of the day, I am not depressed or hopeless, I promise!  In fact, despite the physical decay of my body, on my 30th birthday, there was an extra skip to my spiritual step and hopeful expectation as I thought of the near and far future.  Here is why.
A few months approaching my third decade of life, I found myself incredibly introspective.  I began to analyze (probably over-analyze) everything about me.  Self-awareness has always been my strength.  Ask my friends, I’d be the first to admit my weaknesses.  But something about this birthday made me delve even further to me studying me.  At first, it was admittedly depressing.  For the first time in a while, I could FEEL my age.  I also recalled my hopes/dreams as an 18 year old and realized that more than half the things I wanted to accomplish were still on my to-do list.   But one moment, or weekend, changed everything.
Last weekend, a few guys and I took a weekend trip to New York to celebrate my birthday.  During a dinner, eight of us sat around a table at a traditional Italian restaurant in West Village and caught up on married life (or lack thereof), sports, and everything in between.  As the appetizers were placed on our table, we asked the eldest of the table to bless the meal.  As he prayed, tears began to well in my eyes as I looked at the faces of the men around me.  These were my brothers, life-long friends whom I could call upon at any moment in times of need (as long as their kids were not sick or wives not angry with them=D).  These brothers would pray for me, speak truth in love, laugh, cry, be couch potatoes…. anything with me.  What I experienced at that moment was overwhelming gratitude and I knew it was the Holy Spirit.  What became tangibly real at that moment is something that I often talk and preach about; it’s all about relationships.  It really is, isn’t it?  I believe with my whole heart that God gave us brothers and sisters in Christ, wives, husbands, children, friends, co-workers, whatever relationship you have in your life, to point to a God who is always with us and will never leave us nor forsake us.  Sitting around that table, it didn’t matter how old I was or what I’ve accomplished in life.  It was a gentle-whisper reminder that my Father in heaven always has my back.  If these sinful man can lead me to this conclusion, how much more the promise of a perfect God to be with you and who will never fail.  I pray that you have people in your life that lead you to higher, wider, and deeper praise to the Lord who is worthy of it all.
It was an amazing time that filled me with joy and hope.  Just if you were wondering, I didn’t cry nor do I ever because I’m a thirty-year-old man.  Now stop reading and pay attention to my sermon.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
October 11, 2015

I remember reading a leadership/management book or article somewhere to keep a precise hourly record of your daily schedule for a week.  I actually never took that challenge to heart but I did a brief exercise on my own this week and recalled my schedule each day of this week to write down everything I did and how long I did it for.  Among a few other surprises, what I was most surprised about was the percentage of time I spent in literal “quiet time” with the Lord – this did not include any pastoral day-to-day job requirements, church events, or Christian book reading.  I defined “quiet time” as set aside time in communication (prayer) with God, nothing in front of me except for a bible, journal and a pen.  Out of a week that consists of 168 hours only 4% of my time (roughly an hour/day) was spent in personal, intimate, alone, quiet time with God.  In comparison, 8% of that week was spent watching tv/movies, and over 10% spent with friends hanging out – over DOUBLE the amount that I spent with the Lord.  I know many of us reading this have heard of statistics and comparisons like this before, but taking personal inventory of where my time was spent was eye opening for me.  If the saying “time is money” is true of how we view the 24 hours of our day, I was only giving the Lord only 4 cents of my dollar… A WEEK. Furthermore, if we apply time spent with the Lord to the traditional 10% of tithing, we should be spending 16.8 hours a week (10% of 168 hours in a week), about 2 hours and 24 minutes per day with the Lord.  But I’m busy… right?  We’re all busy with daily essentials with work, family, and friends, aren’t we?
In Luke 5, Luke’s account of the calling of the first disciples and healing of the man with leprosy, verse 16 subtly mentions that in the midst of all the healing and teaching that Jesus did, “he often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”  Now scripture isn’t clear on why he withdrew, but one thing is very clear, because of busy-ness, Jesus withdrew to pray often.  His prayer was not the time spent in our cars while driving to work or while cooking a meal or waiting for our children as they finish sports, Kumon, or violin lessons.  Jesus’ prayer times were withdrawn from the craziness of life in “lonely” or “deserted” (void of people!) places.  How are you all doing with that?  How is your time spent with Jesus?  In what ways have you compromised or made excuses to avoid spending time with the Lord?  Martin Luther, responsible for the Reformation, is often quoted saying “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”  He deeply understood the value of close connection and communication with the Lord.  Friends, let’s get our priorities straight.  Let’s commit to withdraw from the day-to-day busyness and give the King, who gave His all for us, the most precious commodity in our lives, our time.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
August 16, 2015

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

I don’t know why I read or watch the news.  I understand that it keeps me informed about what goes on in the world today, but often times I wonder how good it really is for me.  There has only been a few times (that I recall) where I felt positive and hopeful about what’s happening.  Hopelessness, frustration, sadness resulting in deep sighs and side comments in response to news like “we all need Jesus” or “Jesus needs to hurry and come” seem to overwhelm my thoughts and emotions.  However, as I was reflecting this week, the Lord reminded me of His sovereignty.  It wasn’t a cop-out reminder for myself, a reassuring word and thought to say for me to dismiss the reality of life, but a true reminder that He has the whole world in His hands.  Isaiah 66 has come to mind often, “Heaven is His throne, earth is His footstool” – He is indeed a big, mighty, sovereign God.  If you think on the events in scripture, especially throughout the Old Testament, we see God’s power, hope, and love shine through in some of the darkest moments of Israelite history.  Imagine being in captivity for generations, brainwashed by different rulers and forced into cultures and traditions foreign to your own.  But in the midst of that, the Lord sends people to remind greater Israel that He is still God and they are still His people, if they would turn from idols and obey.   God knows all and will respond accordingly in His perfect timing.  Whether it’s in your life or in this world, He is sovereign, He is faithful, He is a mighty fortress.  I leave you with a hymn called “A Mighty Fortress is our God” by Martin Luther that has encouraged me this week:

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow'r are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle. And tho' this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph thro' us.
The Prince of Darkness grim�
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow'rs,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Thro' Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart

July 5, 2015

I’ve been re-assessing my understanding of what “ministry” entails.  The typical understanding of ministry is associated with a calling, a calling that falls only to a specific group of people (think pastors, missionaries, campus ministry workers, etc).  When you’re “called into ministry” it’s usually, in the eyes of many Christians, a holy calling that requires a 3-year masters degree or the equivalent in experience of doing things pastors do.  If that’s the case, are all the other occupations that Christian’s have a less-holier calling, especially if “ministry” is not in their job title? Has “ministry” been pigeonholed to the office of pastor, preacher, teacher (of the Bible), shepherd, prophet, etc? 
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, Paul writes to the church in Corinth of how faith in the work of Christ on the cross destroys the old creation and that a new creation is born.  Immediately after, he states in v. 18:
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation
He uses the word “ministry” and the ministry of reconciliation given to believers is a direct result of what Christ did for us.  The few times “ministry” is used in scriptures, whether in Hebrew or in Greek, it is often translated as “service” with no higher or holier definition attached.  Ministry is service to and loving God and people (Matthew 22:36-40), those called into ministry serve, and that seems like a fairly broad statement to all believers.  Furthermore, if ministry of reconciliation (or the service of reconciliation to Christ) is a direct result of Christ’s work, for those who call on Christ for salvation, the ministry is a gift to them – another broad statement to all believers.
Friends, God desires for us to be reconciled through his Son.  He also desires to give us and for us to be a part of the ministry of reconciliation, the job title graciously given to all believers whether your occupation has a holy title or not.  This ministry of reconciliation enables us to share in the joy that the good Father has when people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.  Simple put, ministry is loving God and loving people and that is a high calling that we all need to be engaged in.
Knowing this, how are you engaged in ministry?  Who are the people in your life that you are serving and loving to point them to Jesus? 
Pray for opportunities wherever you spend your time – with your family, workplace, school… anywhere and everywhere.  That is the heart and call of God for those who know him.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
May 17, 2015

Remember a time where you experienced heightened joy and happiness.  I’m talking about a memory where you spent hours talking, laughing, enjoying the company of loved ones and the experiences you had with them.  How do you feel now as you think on this moment?  Now remember a time where you experienced the depth of sadness and despair.  A time where you felt there was no possibly reason to rejoice and no hope for the future, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.  How did you feel now as you think on this moment?
Memories invoke the heights and the depths of the range of emotions that make the situations and circumstances you remember a part of who you are and how you became that person.  The idea of remembering is the foundation for the season of Lent, Passion Week, Good Friday, and Easter – and this is not a new idea, especially for God.  During this time, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, as the perfect and spotless Lamb of God, who died to reconcile man to God and to proclaim freedom for the broken.  We remember with contrite hearts the pain and suffering He had to endure for our sake.  But we also remember the glory of the resurrection, that though death seemed to have had a moment of victory, Christ in His power resurrected from death to life, giving us hope and freedom from sin.  He was victorious over death and gave us that victory.  We have hope because there was resurrection!  Thousands of years later, we remember this time, but the beauty of remembering did not begin post resurrection.  It began with God long ago.
When the Israelites were in captivity in Egypt, we are told in scriptures that God heard the groans of His people and He “remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24).  This memory, which was never a distant memory but one that He kept near and dear to His heart, was the first step to the great “exodus”, or the deliverance of His people, and the establishment of relationship between God and a group of people.  God remembered His promise to Abraham that his people would be a great nation and a blessing to all peoples.  God establishes the Law through Moses, laws specifically tailored to keep righteousness or relationship between God and the Israelites.  History shows that the laws were broken time and time again and consequently a broken relationship between God and man.  The future of the relationship seems pretty hopeless, other than a few glimmers of prophetic words, but enter Jesus into the story.
Why did Jesus have to come?  The simple answer is to atone our sins.  But that points the subject of the story to humans, and we know in scripture the subject is the glory of God (which we get to be a part of!).  Jesus came because God remembered.  God remembered His promise to Abraham that His people would be a great nation and for that to happen, because of the sin of man, an ultimate price had to be paid.  For God so loved the world (blessing to the nations, promise of Abraham!) He gave His Son. 
As God remembered His people in the book of Exodus, He had the world in mind.  He remembered His promise, saw the sin of man, and for Him to keep this promise Jesus had to come.  This season we remember with heavy hearts the sacrifice of Jesus.  But mourning turns to joy!  We remember and celebrate today, Easter Sunday, that we have life!  We have joy!  We have victory because Jesus is risen!
I pray that today, and everyday of our lives, the joy of Easter would resonate in our lives and we would never be the same.
 
From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
April 5, 2015

 I’ve been thinking about what it means to BE the church.  Church, to me, in the simplest definition is “the body of Christ.”  And if you think of the magnitude of that statement, it goes far beyond a building, an idea, or even a group of people. My thoughts are not just about our local church body called New Covenant Fellowship Church but the universal body of Christ which we also happen to call the Church.  Often times when we refer to the word “church” our thoughts and sentiments are programmed to think of your “home” church (the church you grew up in), the most church that you’ve visited (if you’ve been searching or “church hopping”), or the church that you have heard of whether word of mouth or in the news (if you are not a regular church go-er).  But let’s talk about the universal Church, the Church that is called to emulate JESUS, not a group of people or a person.  Here are a few thoughts:

WE are a NEW CREATION, not just YOU (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Paul, in His letter to the church in Corinth, conveys to the church their identity as believers.  The theme of “new” is prevalent in this letter; new covenant, new body, new creation, etc.  He emphasizes the ultimate atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross drives a “new-ness” factor in all our lives.  Specifically to 5:17, we are a NEW creation, literally re-born, re-created, re-made, whatever word that helps you to understand the transition from nothing to something.  However, the danger here is to selfishly rear this idea and claim this truth for yourself but Paul’s placement of this truth in his letter is very intentional.  He places this comment right before he writes about the ministry of reconciliation, the ministry of bridging the world to Christ as ambassadors of God (v.20).  Reconciliation involves others.  It involves YOU the ambassador, the ones needing reconciliation, and God, the one we are reconciled to.  Ministry of reconciliation is an integral part of being a new creation.  How are WE, as the church, being a NEW CREATION collectively?  WE are it, not just YOU.

Christ is the HEAD of the church (Colossians 1:18).  In the bible and as I mentioned above, the church is compared to a body of a human being.  The science of the body is fascinating.  Think for one moment the functions of each part of the body.  They are incredibly unique but at the same time intricately related to one another!  When Paul speaks of Christ being the head of the church, he is referring to the Lordship (head being at the top), the function (the purpose, reason, livelihood, importance), but also the face or the recognizing factor of the rest of the body.  As the body of Christ, made up of unique individuals but so intricately tied together, do we represent the Head?  Do our actions and our words point to the head of the Church, who is Jesus?  If you are part of the local body of believers, like NCFC, how have we represented to the world around us that Christ is our face, our recognizing factor?
Friends, this is just a few on-going thoughts but let me end with this.  The Church is called to be ALIVE or A LIFE!  It is a moving, breathing, LIVING organism, whose parts work together, like the human body, to point the world (and one another) back to Jesus, our head!  Let’s not confine our relationship to God by going to church but commit to being the church wherever we go.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
February 8, 2015

I was thinking to myself this week – I love being comfortable.  Not having to worry about my physical well-being - my next meal (other than the difficulty of choosing something that will appease my palate), where I’ll sleep, my safety, etc. – is a beautiful thing.  It’s so easy to take all the simple luxuries in life for granted.  Then I began to think a bit more.  The idea, for most of us the reality, of comfort goes so much more than our physical bodies – there is also an emotional element of comfort that we need to factor in.  If you were to ask a wealthy person who had just experienced a death in the family if they were in a state of comfort, the answer would be a resounding “no” – the pain of a loss would surely lead to much pain.  So when we find ourselves in comfort, we can generally assume that physically and emotionally there is no pressing issue, no reason for us to doubt or be in pain.
Then I hear about the outcomes of trials involving the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.  I hear of the marches, demonstrations, and unfortunate riots - responses to deal with the pain, suffering, and anger caused by these court decisions.  Many are crying for justice and pointing fingers to racism while others are responding that justice has been served and these situations are isolated events, having nothing to do with the larger social (and I believe spiritual) issue of racism.  Even in Christian circles, there is division on how to approach all that has been going on.  It’s a devastating time, to say the least.  But I’ll be honest about my initial reaction - my head knew that there was something deeply wrong with what is going on but my heart responded “what’s the big deal?”  There was a disconnect with what I knew and what I felt.  Which led me to the realization of how comfortable I was.  Let me explain.
No one wants to be disturbed.  In the heart and soul of every person is a longing to be safe and secure, physically and emotionally, and we will do whatever it takes to make it so.  But I began to wonder if my search for comfort, protecting myself from being emotionally vulnerable, had hardened my heart to what’s been going on in our world today.  Could this be the reason for the disconnect between my mind and heart?  I believe so.  Jesus made Himself vulnerable to a world of hurt and pain during His time here on earth.  He suffered physically but more than that He suffered emotionally – the result of the sin of man and being rejected by those He loved to the very end.  I had been looking at the events in the eyes of a news anchor wanting to be aware and communicate the latest from a distant, not through the lens of Christ who hurts and walks with those in pain, carries burdens, and heals all wounds.  I was so busy making sure my heart was secure that I refused to respond with true compassion to my brother and sister thus disobeying the latter part of the great commandment, to love my neighbor.
Friends, we will never ask a friend or family member in deep pain to justify and explain why they are hurting.  If we truly cared, our initial response would be embrace and doing whatever it takes to bring comfort and peace.  Why is this situation any different?  Our brothers and sisters in the African American community are hurting.  Why do we turn a blind eye or even worse, ask them to justify why they are hurting or angry?  Have we become so focused in protecting ourselves that we’ve lost sight of being like our Savior who wept bitterly for the lost and broken and died for the other?
(These are simply my reflections and thoughts in light of current events from my realization of the lack of compassion I see in myself and around me.  I’d be more than happy to discuss my personal opinions on racism, justice and the situation as a whole.)

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
December 7, 2014

As many of you reading may already know, Pastor Mark Driscoll, lead pastor of mega-church Mars Hill in Seattle, had recently resigned from his position as lead pastor.  Prior to his resignation, Driscoll was suspended from ministry duties, asked to step down from a church planting network/organization that he had founded, and subject to an investigation of misuse of church funds (this is not an exhaustive list but only some of the things he is going through).  Let me say that I am not a fan of Driscoll nor do I fall in the camp of people who want to publically humiliate and discredit his ministry.  I have listened to several of his sermons and have been incredibly blessed and at the same time have been appalled at some things he’s said.  However, as I reflect and pray about this situation, a few things come to mind and heart that I believe presents a far deeper issue for everyone.
First, to those who have been hurt by the lack of wisdom of church leaders, whether it be misuse of finances, sexual misconduct, or a heartless power-trip, I pray and humbly ask for your forgiveness.  Pastors are indeed imperfect people.  But I also pray that through these situations, you become aware of the depth of fallen-ness of all man but at the same time the heights of love, mercy, and grace in which Jesus delivers all of us from that fallen nature.  Pastors are called to a higher standard, as those called to shepherd, teach and equip the congregation.  The church is called to be a community of grace and forgiveness in which a pastor is a part of.  Both must happen simultaneously. 
Second, we all as individuals need a deep-rooted faith, built on the cornerstone Who is Christ.  I’m reminded time and time again of my years of campus ministry as a college student, specifically remembering those whom I served with to make Christ known but who have fallen away after college as a result of a lack of deep roots.  Maybe it was because they relied heavily on a single leader, or organization.  Maybe it was because the worries of this world “choked” them up to prevent growth.  Whatever the reason may be, through prayer, reading of scripture, corporate worship, fasting, among many other spiritual disciples, we must individually and corporately find our joy of salvation and eternal destiny and purpose in Jesus and Him alone.
Lastly, as Paul admonishes the church in Ephesus, we must strive to be a body that speaks truth in love to one another.  This is not simply an accountability call, but as the verse continues, we speak truth in love to one another that we may “mature” as the body whose head is Christ.  One telltale sign of a church that is mature is one that speaks truth in love.  It’s not truth AND love, but the speaking truth in the position and posture of love, which is relationship and Christ-like perspective of one another.  I think of Driscoll and though I don’t know the details of his situation, perhaps he did not have spiritual friends to speak freely, truthfully, and lovingly into his life.  And it goes both ways.  As we speak truth in love, we must be gracious RECEIVERS of truth in love as well.  Believers must be ready in all seasons to hear the tough stuff with an unoffendable heart.  Friends, practice this.  God does not speak through His Word for nothing.  He KNOWS the BEST for us.
It’s been incredibly difficult for me to hear stories like this, especially as a pastor.  I have heard and personally experienced way too many stories where leaders in the church have fallen and been asked to step down from their positions for various reasons.  But I remind myself of several things that brings me back to my feet - there are sheep looking to me to point them to Jesus, there’s a world out there that needs to know Jesus (and I get to be a part of that!), and most importantly, Christ has already defeated sin and death on the cross and walks, leads, and fights with us to the way of hope and life.  And that is the best thing of all, that “God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God bless you and keep you.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
October 26, 2014

Think of the last conversation you had with someone that involved advice giving from either party.  If you were the recipient of advice, how did you feel after that “wisdom bomb” was dropped on you?  Did you feel wiser?  Ready to take on the task you needed advice on?  Let me switch it up a bit.  Did you feel loved?  Did you feel like the person you went to actually cared about your situation?  For the advice givers, did you take time to ask questions about the person and their situation?  What was the more prevailing thought in your mind, “what should I say “ or “how should I love”?
At one point in my ministry, I realized that a successful day of work would be squeezing in as many meetings with people in the span of 4-5 hours.  That’s what a pastor does, right?  With that definition, I was absolutely successful.  Every few days, I would go down the list of people in my ministries, schedule meetings, drop a “wisdom bomb” or two or three, and on to the next.  I was the best wisdom bomber I could be, ruthlessly proclaiming truths of scripture and life into those less wise and experienced than I. 
Then a sad realization came – the people that I had met with were still struggling with the issue they came to me for!  Heathens!  How could they, when the power and truth of scripture was so clearly stated by me?  “It must be them, not me.  They have issues,” I’d reassure myself, because I was speaking truth as I was called to do.  As I struggled through this process, God graciously lead me to the famous Ephesians 4:15 where the Apostle Paul emphasizes the way in which we interact with people, “with truth in love.”  Often times, this scripture is viewed in the context of conversation; as we speak, we must speak truth with a healthy dose of loving comments here and there.  Though this is true, I believe that Apostle Paul is asking us to take it a step further.  “Truth in love” is not in the context of semantics or conversation but rather the speaking of truth is in the context of the pursuit of loving our brothers and sisters as Christ first loved us.  Pretty simple, right?  Maybe, but what if I phrased the verse like this: “As you are loving those around you as Christ loved, speak truth.”  Living that out is a bit harder, but that’s exactly what Christ commands.  In our fast-paced culture, we are so ready to give one-liners that will fix all problems instead of taking the time to love the individual and put ourselves in their shoes.
Stephen Covey in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” suggests one way to enhance the effectiveness of conversations is to constantly practice empathetic listening.  He states, regarding our natural inclination in conversation:
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. . . . They’re filtering everything through their own paradigms, reading their autobiography into other people’s lives... [they must] seek first to understand, then seek to be understood”
And about what it means to listen with empathy:
“Empathetic listening gets inside another person’s frame of reference. You look out through it, you see the world the way they see the world, you understand their paradigm, you understand how they feel. . . . You’re listening to understand.”
And to me, that’s exactly how Jesus listens to us.  If Jesus, the most empathetic, wise, and loving being in the world takes time to know us, see us, and love us as we are, wouldn’t that be the most effective AND loving way to approach all our conversations?
Friends, let’s be slow to speak and quick to listen.  Let’s take the time to love and care for everyone we are blessed to converse with because one of the essential ways to speak and live out the Word of God is to listen.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
September 7, 2014

Have you ever felt like there was not enough time in the day to finish everything you needed to do?  Have you ever been overwhelmed with so many things on your task-list that at times you felt the best way to deal with life is do to nothing at all?  Have you ever said “I’m so busy” or “I’m too busy for [insert activity of secondary importance here]” to someone or even yourself?  Have you ever forced yourself to sleep by pure exhaustion of thinking about what you have to accomplish in the next day or week to come? 
I do.  When my Google calendar begins to look like a coloring book of a 2 year old boy and each days’ appointments and tasks looks like an encrypted message from a spy movie, sometimes I want to throw all electronic/communication devices out the window and travel back to the Stone Ages where things seemed so much… simpler.  I’m sure I’m not the only one but if I am, you can stop reading now.  But professionals, students, fathers, mothers, friends, volunteers, etc. know what I’m talking about.  We all come to a point where things get ridiculously busy or maybe you’re so used to busy-ness that all the above has become normal.  Summer time is one of those times for me; juggling preparations for youth Friday activities, Sunday school materials, young adult evenings, planning meetings, worship songs, sermons, counseling meetings, my personal studies and squeezing in family and friends… sometimes become daunting and joyless tasks.
But God brings us to a “wake up and smell the coffee” moment.  For me, that came in the most unexpected place, an episode of Duck Dynasty, a show that I never watch but happened to watch with a few friends.  The episode was about Mia, the daughter of one of the Robertson’s (star family of the show) who was going in for her fifth procedure for a cleft issue.  In efforts to rally around her to encourage and love her, her parents had decided to gather family for a time of food, fun, and fellowship (sound familiar?).  The evening seemed enjoyable except for the reality that this whole production was to bring some smiles and happiness to a young girl who had been dealing with a physical deformity all her life.  Can you imagine what her parents were feeling - the fear, anxiety, worry, and sorrow to have their precious child go through this?  Wow.  As the end of the event came to a close, Mia’s father invited her up to the stage.  Little Mia nervously took a note out of her pocket to read a letter to her friends and family that she had prepared in advance.  She thanked everyone for being there and began to share briefly with everyone her fears, struggles and other sentiments.  Her father and mother were at the brink of tears (as I’m sure many viewers were as well).  But what really struck me was the wisdom, faith, courage, and love that was displayed as she read her closing statement and I paraphrase, “My favorite verse is from Psalm 46, ‘Be still and know that I am God’ because I know He’s with me and will take care of me.”
Friends, there is no doubt in my mind of how busy you and I are and will be.  We all have responsibilities to undertake and will most likely be bombarded by the sinking feeling of “too busy”.   But we must remind ourselves in the midst of busy seasons and lives, to be still and know that God and Him alone is sovereign and supreme, He is worthy of our FULL attention in worship in EVERY moment of our lives, and invites us to love the people around us by giving and sharing our LIVES to one another in LOVE as He first loved us, which brings Him glory (1 John 4).  Let’s make room in our lives and hearts for the Spirit of God to truly move and work.  He is worthy of it.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
July 27, 2014

Happy Father’s Day from Calvin and Hobbes!

Fathers, contrary to popular belief, we actually do listen to the things you say=)!
There’s a story about my father that I will never forget – a story of his character and actions that speak to me about life and ministry.  This story was told to me in a leadership group by our previous senior pastor.  Many years ago when my father was an oikos leader, he and a leader in training were sitting under a seminar/teaching from our then senior pastor.  The topic was on care ministry and the role of the oikos leader and subjects as love, compassion, leadership structure were all being spoken on.  There came a point in the seminar, where the senior pastor wanted to use his life as a personal example and how the people sitting under his teaching can relate to him.  So he asked a simple question, “who is your pastor?”  Thinking that all would point to him, since he was the pastor, there was a brief moment of silence, and with a quiet but confident voice the leader in training pointed to my father and said, “he is my pastor and mentor.”  When I heard the story, I couldn’t help but beam with pride.  You see, my father is not a pastor by title.  In scripture, Paul talks repeatedly about gifts given to people from the Lord to admonish, encourage, and challenge the church.  Often times the role or gifts of “pastor” and “shepherd” are limited to that of the elders or capital “P” pastors of the church.  My father never told me this story, but what he taught me was that compassion, love, and care for the flock that the Lord (and no one else!) has placed under you is a serious responsibility and calling.  He showed me that though he was “only” an oikos leader by title, he went the extra mile to love and care for his people as any Pastor or Elder would and should. 
Friends, Jesus gave a new commandment (singular!) to his disciples during the last meal He would have with them – love God and love others.  He said do this simultaneously, not one after the other.  Fathers and future fathers, the greatest gift you can give to your children, wife, the people around you, the flock God has placed before you, is to love and care for them as Jesus loved and cared for us.  We look to you to lead but more than that, we look to you to love as Christ loved the church.  As Paul prayed over the church in Ephesus, I leave you with this prayer:
 “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
God bless you and keep you.  Amen.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
June 15, 2014

Happy mother’s day!  To all the biological and spiritual mothers in our congregation, God bless you and keep you!  To the sons and daughters, do whatever it takes to make them happy.  Happy mom, happy life=).  Mother’s day is always interesting for me.  I thank the Lord that it is a national holiday; no matter what ethnicity, religion, age, or gender you are, on this day, we recognize nationwide how amazing our mothers are and are reminded to thank our mothers for what they do.  However, it’s also a rude-awakening on how much I don’t appreciate my mom enough every other day throughout the year.  Let’s remember to thank the Lord for one another all the time.  God is indeed an amazing gift giver, solely based on the people he has placed in our lives.
I remember a particular instance in high school when I got into big trouble.  My mom heeded the Word of the Lord and certainly did not spare the rod.  But this time her discipline was different.  I don’t quite recall what I did or said, but what I do remember is my mother’s response as if it happened yesterday.  I remember her sitting me down with tears welling in her eyes and saying in Korean, “It’s my fault.  I wish I was there for you every day when you came home from school, to be able to ask you how your day was, and to cook you a meal.  I wish I was there.”  Even now, thinking of her response, emotions rise but more than that, one thing is absolutely clear; the power of presence - the ability of a loved one to simply be who they are created to be and just BE for the people around them.  My mom knew in her heart that she could DO a lot of things for me to express her love (and she did!) but none would compare to the simple assurance of who she is and that she would be there for me no matter what. 
That is what God does for us.  He is a faithful God whose actions are consistent with His promises.  He is a loving God who pursues His people from the beginning of time to the end of time who provided the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus.  He is Father.  He is Counselor.  He IS all these things and acts it out.  And one of the greatest promises and truths in scripture, He is Emmanuel, God WITH us through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus promises this gift and it’s available for you and me.  We have God who does amazing things throughout our lives that increases our awareness of Him, but when things don’t seem to go as planned and His works are not as evident, we have the truth of scripture that says “[He] will never leave you nor forsake you”.  Emulating this aspect of God is one of the greatest gifts a mother and father can give (or be) to their children.  In 1 Corinthians 4:14, Paul writes to the church in Corinth that they have many guides (ESV) or guardians (NIV) in Christ but not many fathers.  There were so many “do-ers” in the church who taught scriptures and did good works.  There were many relationships that resembled the modern day congregation to preacher dynamic.  But Paul is clear when he says that there’s too much of those relationships but not enough spiritual son/daughter and spiritual father/mother relationships.  Paul knew when a spiritual parent makes himself or herself available to spiritual children, gives time and presence to them, they are emulating an aspect of God that is so profound and powerful, that has the ability to spur children in holiness and Christ-like character – the ABBA God, or Father God.  Today, I challenge you all to look beyond your family unit to see the people that you serve and worship with as potential mothers and fathers, sons and daughters in Christ. 
Mothers, we celebrate and honor you today.  We praise God because of you and pray that you would be encouraged and appreciated by all.  We love you!

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
May 11, 2014

“What are you giving up for Lent and why?” is a question often asked around in the church (or among Christians, whatever term you prefer) when Ash Wednesday comes around.  It is a time when believers all over the world observe a time of fasting, moderation, repentance and reflection for typically forty days in “honor” of Christ’s death and His resurrection.  Shortly after Christianity was legalized in 313AD, the Council of Nicea comes in the picture where gathered together to bring about a consensus of Christian conduct and discipline.  One of the disciplines established was the practice of a period of fasting, typically 40 days, prior to a more intense week of fasting during Holy Week.  There were many rules and regulations attached to this period (which I won’t go into) but one can safely assume the season of Lent was established during this time, a time integral to any Christian’s life.  Fast forward many years to today and the Christian practices we uphold.  Good Christians read the bible, pray, attend church and small groups and the month and half before Easter Weekend, we give up something to observe Lent.  But why do we do this?  What is your reason for giving up anything in the season of Lent?  Is it REALLY to honor Christ and bring an intense season of remembrance in your life?
When asked about fasting by the John the Baptist’s disciples, Jesus replies, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?  The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast” (Mt. 9:15).  Here Jesus gives us foresight into the rich analogy of His relationship with His people, the church – that of the bridegroom (Jesus) and the bride (the church).  There are many examples of what fasting is (and isn’t) in scripture, but the verse in Matthew gives us insight to simple instruction and perspective of fasting – do it when Jesus is not here.  What does this entail?  In the absence of a savior and true king, God’s people were constantly under the rule and reign of foreign kingdoms and influences.  However during these times, prophets would prophesy that there would be a coming King, from the line of King David that would bring peace and prosperity to God’s people.  We can be sure that there was fasting and mourning and desperation in their prayers to God for this King to come!  We flip the pages of scripture to the Gospels on the arrival of Jesus.  He Himself proclaimed that He was the King of the Jews, the LONG awaited King, but not in the way that the Jews wanted.  A select few were convicted of His message, became His disciples and continued His work after He ascended into heaven.  Today, once again He is physically no longer here.  To a certain extent, we feel the sentiment of the Jews of Old, where there was no Jesus.  However, scripture is abundantly clear that He actually is, not in physical form that makes sense to us, but through the Holy Spirit!  To which I return to my original question, “what are you giving up for Lent and why?”
This is a strange paradox that we live in.  Jesus is here through the Spirit, but not yet, as indicated in Revelation, that Jesus Christ Himself, in physically/tangibly will come to rid the world of pain, suffering, and sin.  Clearly we have pain, suffering, and sin in the world today.  But we have the promise of the Holy Spirit that He is with us NOW and will empower us to continue His work and BE CHRIST wherever we go.  So here is my conviction:  I don’t fast while weeping and mourning because Jesus isn’t here yet, but I fast in excitement that the Holy Spirit lives in me, and to hear His voice that much clearer, and in anticipation Jesus WILL come and establish His COMPLETE rule and reign in this world.  I now approach fasting with JOY.  I don’t flaunt it in the street corners but in the secret place, rejoice in the Lord for His promises today and for tomorrow.  I leave you with this quote from Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury: "It’s important to remember that the word ‘Lent’ itself comes from the old English word for ‘spring’. It’s not about feeling gloomy for forty days; it’s not about making yourself miserable for forty days; it’s not even about giving things up for forty days. Lent is springtime. It’s preparing for that great climax of springtime which is Easter—new life bursting through death. And as we prepare ourselves for Easter during these days, by prayer and by self-denial, what motivates us and what fills the horizon is not self-denial as an end in itself but trying to sweep and clean the room of our own minds and hearts so that the new life really may have room to come in and take over and transform us at Easter." 

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
March 30, 2014

We are coming out of a great conference weekend where we broached the topic of “Christ Centered Culture.”  The themes were consistent with what I believe we are going through as a community and the Lord certainly challenged us in what it means to be a community centered on Jesus.  The ability to love and care for one another comes not from human efforts and means but from a divine impartation and awareness of His love for us FIRST since “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  However, though our intimacy with Christ precedes intimacy with one another in community, our relationships with the people around us do reflect our relationship with the Lord (1 John 4:7-21).  I’m convinced that everyday of my life I have to surrender to the rule and reign of God in my life, confess His great love displayed on the Cross of Jesus, and receive this love that was given to me by the Holy Spirit (though in human fair-ness standards, it’s difficult to accept since we deserve death due to our sin).  Then and only then as recipients of His love can we extend love to the people around us and to the world that desperately needs to see it. 
Henry Nouwen writes this about community:
“To care means first of all to empty our own cup and to allow the other to come close to us. It means to take away the many barriers which prevent us from entering into communion with the other. When we dare to care, then we discover that nothing human is foreign to us, but that all the hatred and love, cruelty and compassion, fear and joy can be found in our own hearts. When we dare to care, we have to confess that when others kill, I could have killed too. When others torture, I could have done the same. When others heal, I could have healed too. And when others give life, I could have done the same. Then we experience that we can be present to the soldier who kills, to the guard who pesters, to the young man who plays as if life has no end, and to the old man who stopped playing out of fear for death.

By the honest recognition and confession of our human sameness, we can participate in the care of God who came, not to the powerful but powerless, not to be different but the same, not to take our pain away but to share it. Through this participation we can open our hearts to each other and form a new community.” 
When I as a person realize I am as sinful as the next, I start to see that the grace and love extended to me is not more special or powerful than others.  Christ died and rose for all and His grace and love is sufficient for all.  Remind yourself of this truth everyday and be transformed by it and see how you begin to view the people and world around you by the renewed mindset which is transformed in the likeness of Christ.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
February 16, 2014

A blog entry from Jared C. Wilson on adoring Jesus:
 “We are typically very quick to note when someone is not showing love for their neighbor. But what about love for Jesus? Should it settle implicitly? Is love for Christ something that is sufficient when latent?
What I notice a lot every day in the Christian spheres of social media is just how incredibly adept we evangelicals are at doctrinal criticism, cultural rebuke, theological analysis, biblical exegesis, contending for the faith in apologetic and ethical debates, pithy spiritualbon mots, religious advice, and of course the quoting of Christian leaders present and past, but what seems less prevalent is adoration of Jesus.
When we see a Bible verse, we run its meaning through our mind and can expound on it with intelligence, but when we see Christ before us, do we stagger at his beauty and exult in it with awe? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see a lost person acting a fool in the news, our righteous indignation runs right through our fingertips to our keyboards, but when we see Christ before us, does our righteousness crumble and run right to his feet in a posture of supplication? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see one of our Christian heroes saying something smart or funny or challenging, we send them a virtual high-five and echo the proclamation in shouts of appreciation, but when we see Christ before us, do we lift him high in our hearts and herald his glory with shouts of acclamation? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see that someone is wrong on the Internet, we feel the responsibility to speak up, to be the one to stand in the gap between their ignorance and our assurance, but when we see Christ before us — supreme and sovereign and saving — do we feel the wonders of his radiance?
When we look at Jesus, are we warmed? Or do we shrug our shoulders?
Some professing Christians don’t seem to speak of Christ at all. Let them ask themselves, “Do I adore Jesus?”
Has Jesus become our mascot, our projection? When you look at him, what do you see?
There’s nothing wrong with using the Internet public squares for all kinds of messages, from the serious to the silly, and I don’t mean to suggest that there is. I just want to ask sometimes, “But do you adore Jesus? It seems you are fired up about all sorts of things, but it is not clear if you love Jesus.” I don’t think we should simply assume from some peripheral fire that the central ignition is love of Christ.
Christ is the apex of all that is precious, the center of all that is glorious and delightful. He is the very point of existence. He is the Son of the living God, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last who was and is and is to come. “O come let us adore him!”, not scrutinize, utilize, or analyze him.”
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so…
– Psalm 107:2
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
– Isaiah 52:7

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
January 12, 2014

Have you read the news recently?  If you haven’t, I am a firm believer it’s good for all people to keep up with current events locally and globally.  It’s quite remarkable the things that happen.  As of late, it seems there’s tragedy after tragedy, death after death.  This week I read about Philippines receiving only a small percentage of what was promised to them by the rest of the world.  I read about the death of Paul Walker (thought I first saw it on a Facebook post!), actor in the Fast and Furious movie series.  On Thursday, the world heard breaking news of the death of Nelson Mandela, inspirational leader and fighter for justice.  Lot to take in at times, isn’t it?  However, I’ve also been reading up on another man, who is very much alive, but is really challenging the scope of evangelical Christianity and Catholicism alike.  His name is Pope Francis.
I personally have never been interested nor inclined to the office of the pope.  To me it deifies a single man and the power this office holds at times does not sit well with me.  Then Pope Francis comes into the picture.  This past week, headlines stated “Pope Francis worked as nightclub bouncer!”  Isn’t that awesome?  I think so.  For the first time, I found myself saying “wow, I’d sure like to meet and hang out with the pope.”  It’s rare these days to find “celebrity” figures in Christianity so down to earth and humble.  In an article on churchleaders.com, a staff writer quotes Pope Francis:
"I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security," he wrote. "I do not want a church concerned with being at the center and then ends up by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures."
"More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us, 'Give them something to eat.'"
"The church, as the agent of evangelization, is more than an organic hierarchical institution; she is first and foremost a people advancing on its pilgrim way towards God," he wrote. "Excessive centralization, rather than proving helpful, complicates the church's life and her missionary outreach."
Pope Francis, in my opinion, is redefining church leadership and arguably church culture.  For me as a pastor of a local church, I hear quotes like the ones above and ask myself “Do I encourage the people I serve to go out and love or to stay in and ‘grow’?”  Friends, are your Christian peers the only people that know you are a believer and follower of Jesus?  This should not be the case.  Look at Jesus… this man got his “hands dirty” by surrounding Himself with the broken and the sinners.  The lesson of the sheep and goats of Matthew 25 resonates in my heart, mind, and soul.
I am challenged to be more like and imitate Jesus; to go out into a hostile world and not stay inside the safe haven of a church, to have a pure heart but not be afraid to get my hands and feet dirty and love the people around me who need Jesus.  I hope you are challenged to.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
December 8, 2013

I've always wondered what it means to experience God.  If experience is the evidence or outcome of the culmination of our knowledge, awareness, insight, etc. into or about an object, by defintion, our experience of God would be very limited.  What do we really know about God?  Are we truly aware of His presence?  What insights do we have about who He really is?  Not much.  I say this because I believe that God is the god of the universe and I still don't know what the universe is outside our solar system.  Looking at this by pure logic, it makes no sense; how can an unfathomable, inexplicable God be experienced?
I'm an all or nothing type of guy.  If I can't have it all or make something work 100%, I'd rather have nothing.  Strange?  Maybe.  But that's how I view my relationship with God and the way I experience Him.  I hate the fact that right now our understanding of the world, of humanity, of God is incomplete.  Even our understanding of love, is imperfect or known "in part" (1 Corinthians 13).  If you're like me, I want the answers right now.  But the bible is clear, we just can't and it will never happen in our lifetime.  I guess that's where faith kicks in and the struggle with it.  It'll happen.  You'll find yourself questioning the goodness of God, maybe even the existence of God.  But, if I may, here is some good news.
It says in Genesis 1 that we are created in the "likeness" of God.  We don't have ALL His abilities and characteristics (then we'd be God) but you and I are created in His image nonetheless.  As vast are the different aspects of God, He created us in His image that we would reflect Him to be known in the world but also be made aware of Him in our lives, or in other words, experience Him.  ALL for us to enjoy and love Him that we may glorify Him.  He's given us unique quirks, niches, gifts, passions, or personalities (whatever makes you, YOU) as avenues to experiencing Him.  Let me give you a personal example.
I LOVE the city.  I love the fast-paced nature.  I love the plethora of cultures and ethnicities that reside in the city.  I love the diversity of amazing foods on every city block.  But more than that, I love the uniqueness of every individual that I walk by.  One of my favorite things to do is to roam the city with headphones on playing "God of the City" (just kidding.. but I like music).  The many times I’ve done this, I've experienced God in a way where I know He is saying "I want a moment with you... just you and me." He makes Himself known to me when I do this.  Why?  As I stated above, we are made in His likeness.  But have you seen how different the people around you look? Have you had a conversation with someone who is EXACTLY like you with your personality, passions, and physical appearance?  NO!  Every single, non-specific mold, person is precious in the eyes of God because He made them in His image.  We are more precious to Him than mountains, trees, oceans, or animals.  When I walk the city, I'm made aware of His HUGENESS but at the very same time His Emmanuel-ness, or intimacy.  I'm made aware that I belong to the human-race but I am His favorite child (as are YOU)
The city is one of the ways I experience God and I know He has created me to operate in this way.  There are other ways I experience God but this is one small example.  He is much bigger than you think but He wants you to experience Him on a very unique and personal level.  What ways has He given you to experience Him, or made Himself aware to you?  Nature-walks?  Reading a good book?  Coffee with a friend?  Let's not limit an experience with omnipresent, ominiscient, omnipotent God to our 12:00-1:30pm service.  He desires to be made known wherever you are, whoever you are, however you are doing.  Praying that you would have amazing times with the Lord this week.

From Pastor Keyoung’s Heart
November 3, 2013

I’ve been thinking about what it means to BE the church.  Church, to me, in the simplest definition is “the body of Christ.”  And if you think of the magnitude of that statement, it goes far beyond a building, an idea, or even a group of people. My thoughts are not just about our local church body called New Covenant Fellowship Church but the universal body of Christ which we also happen to call the Church.  Often times when we refer to the word “church” our thoughts and sentiments are programmed to think of your “home” church (the church you grew up in), the most church that you’ve visited (if you’ve been searching or “church hopping”), or the church that you have heard of whether word of mouth or in the news (if you are not a regular church go-er).  But let’s talk about the universal Church, the Church that should represent JESUS, not a group of people or a person.  Here are (just a few) of my thoughts:
WE are a NEW CREATION, not just YOU (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Paul, in His letter to the church in Corinth, desperately conveys to the church their identity as believers.  The theme of “new” is prevalent in this letter; new covenant, new body, new creation, etc.  He emphasizes the ultimate atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross drives a “new-ness” factor in all our lives.  Specifically to 5:17, we are a NEW creation, literally re-born, re-created, re-made, whatever word that helps you to understand the transition from nothing to something.  However, the danger here is to selfishly rear this idea and claim this truth for yourself but Paul’s placement of this truth in his letter is very intentional.  He places this comment right before he writes about the ministry of reconciliation, the ministry of reconciling the world to Christ as ambassadors of God (v.20).  Reconciliation involves others.  It involves YOU the ambassador, the ones needing reconciliation, and God, the one we are reconciled to.  Ministry of reconciliation is an integral part of being a new creation.  How are WE, as the church, being a NEW CREATION collectively?  WE are it, not just YOU.
Christ is the HEAD of the church (Colossians 1:18).  In the bible and as I mentioned above, the church is compared to a body of a human being.  The science of the body is fascinating.  Think for one moment the functions of each part of the body.  They are incredibly unique but at the same time intricately related to one another!  When Paul speaks of Christ being the head of the church, he is referring to the Lordship (head being at the top), the function (the purpose, reason, livelihood, importance), but also the face or the recognizing factor of the rest of the body.  As the body of Christ, made up of unique individuals but so intricately tied together, do we represent the Head?  Do our actions and our words point to the head of the Church, who is Jesus?  If you are part of the local body of believers, like NCFC, how have we represented to the world around us that Christ is our face, our recognizing factor?
Friends, this is just a few on-going thoughts but let me end with this.  The Church is called to be ALIVE or A LIFE!  It is a moving, breathing, LIVING organism, whose parts work together, like the human body, to point the world (and one another) back to Jesus, our head!  Let’s not confine our relationship to God by going to church but commit to being the church wherever we go.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is [ALREADY] here!” 
Be loved, be blessed, be encouraged, be challenged. 

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
September 29, 2013

On Adoption
“While it costs us a lot to adopt children, it cost God the blood of His own Son.”
- Rick Morton and Tony Merida, Orphanology
“Adoption graphically and intimately describes the family character of Pauline Christianity, and is a basic description for Paul of what it means to be a Christian.”
- Trevor Burke, Adopted into God’s Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor
“Forgiveness isn’t an end in itself. The point of forgiveness is to remove the barrier that stands between us and God so that He can give us His Spirit and bring us into His everlasting family.”
- Darrell Bock, Real Lost Gospel

On God as Father
“What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.”
- J.I. Packer, Knowing God
“There is no one concept of God which dominates the theology of Paul more than [the fatherhood of God].”
- Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin and Daniel G. Reid, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters

The quotes above give insight to theological truths of our relationship with God.  We’ve been bought at a price, through the death and resurrection of His son Jesus Christ to be welcomed into the family of God.  The definition of “family” can be confusing here.  It can be seen as the acceptance and welcome into the church, the community, or the body of Christ.  There is truth to this statement.  But I believe adoption adheres to a more profound truth.  As Christians, we believe in the Trinity, God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Among these three “persons” of God, there is perfect unity, glorifying the other.  The words “Father” and “Son” point to a familial bond within the Trinity.  Often times in the bible, we are referred to as co-heirs of the kingdom (Romans 8:17) and co-heirs refers to the position of a child to receive inheritance from a father, so in other words we have the same inheritance promised to CHRIST Himself!  In other words, we are sons and daughters ALONG WITH CHRIST HIMSELF!  It says in the bible that we will be glorified with Christ.  Because of sin, we were far from the Lord, but because of the price paid on the cross, we are given the title of SONS and DAUGHTERS of Most High God!  Isn’t this amazing?  Does this help in your perspective of calling God, Abba Father, knowing that it was at the cost of His Son, that we are adopted AS HIS OWN and called sons and daughters with Jesus?  This is GREAT NEWS that compels and allows us to live lives of faith, hope, and love… of victory!

Starting today, many of us are heading out to our annual Summer Retreat for Timothy Youth Group.  The topic is “The Father’s Heart” and I believe wholeheartedly that our amazing God desires to reveal who the youth are in His eyes, as His own sons and daughters.  As they become more and more aware of Who God is and who they are to God because of Christ Jesus, I know that at a young age, they can live lives in total surrender and abandonment to the One who loved and saved them.  I believe among us, we have the next King David’s, Apostle Paul’s, Billy Graham’s, Hudson Taylor’s, Jim Elliot’s… and will do even GREATER things than them.  Please pray for us.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
August 18, 2013