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

Congratulations class of 2013! 

Graduation is such an exciting time.  It's a unique transitional time in your life where you have the opportunity to look back on the past few years that led to your graduation but also thinking, dreaming, planning, and often times worrying about the road ahead.  Relax, it's really going to be okay.  Take a deep breath.  YOU'LL BE OKAY.
I love finding simple truths in simple things.  I have always enjoyed reading comic strips.  Often times it's an escape from reality but surprisingly enough you find profound words speaking to you that make you think about your life and the world around you.  The Calvin and Hobbes strip above is one of those cases.  At the onset of this strip, the two friends find themselves in a world that was aesthetically different than the day prior.  "Everything familiar has disappeared!  The world looks brand new!"  Graduates, I promise you this will not be the first time you experience transition.  All of life is transition.  You'll find yourself looking at a "brand new" world ahead as "everything familiar" disappears.  The most important thing for you during these times is your reaction to this reality.  How will you respond?  Will you be crippled with fear of the uncertainty or will you boldly cry out like Calvin in the midst of uncertainty, "let's go exploring"?
There's so much to explore and discover out there, including yourself!  Contrary to popular and secular belief that the end goal is all that matters, we believe, as followers of Christ that how we run the race is just as important.  Jesus already promised us the end goal which is to be with Him for eternity and in perfection.  So friends, as we, graduates and non-graduates aike, face change, let us respond like Calvin, knowing and trusting that as we "go exploring", the Lord will mold us, shape us, and make us more and more like Him along the way until we are glorified with Him when we meet Him face to face.  To extend Calvin's wise words, let's "never stop exploring."  God bless you and congratulations to the class of 2013.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart

June 2, 2013

In honor of all the amazing mothers, I’d like to share the lyrics of an old song by Shirley Caesar:

My sister's little boy came in the kitchen one evening 

While she was fixing supper 

And he handed her a piece of paper he had been writing on 

And after wiping her hands on an apron 

She took it in her hands and she read it 

And this is what it said: 

For mowing the yard - $5 

And for making up my own bed this week - $1 

For going to the store - $.50 

And playing with little brother while you went shopping - $.25 

Taking out the trash - $1 

And for getting a good report card - $5
And for raking the yard - $2 

Total owed - $14.75 

Well she looked at him standing there and expecting 

And a thousand memories flashed through her mind 

So she picked up the pen and turned the paper over and this is what she wrote: 

F

or the 9 months I carried you, holding you inside me, NO CHARGE

For the nights I sat up with you, doctored you, prayed for you, NO CHARGE

For the time and the tears and the costs through the years, there is NO CHARGE 
When you add it all up,  the full cost of my love is NO CHARGE

For the nights filled with grey and the worries ahead, NO CHARGE

For the advice and the knowledge and the costs of your college, NO CHARGE

For the toys, school, and clothes, and for wiping your nose, there's NO CHARGE, son.

When you add it all up, the full cost of my love is NO CHARGE

Well you know when I think about that

I think about the day that Jesus went out to Calvary and gave His life as a ransom for me

When I think on the words "If any man be in Christ, he's a new creature"

I like to think about the very minute that He shed  His blood

My debt was paid in full, and I want you to know today 
When you add it all up, the full cost of Real Love is NO CHARGE.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
May 12, 2013

To all the parents of our congregation, I give you the utmost honor and respect.  You’ve raised us from our years as helpless babes, through the terrible twos, through adolescence where you explained and comforted us as our bodies and minds changed, through our young adult years as we transition into different seasons, and will continue to love and care for us as long as you are alive.  The hearts of parents never seems to change. At the age of 27, I am still my parents’ baby.  But you can never fully protect us from this world.  We’ll open up any periodical and see the pain, suffering, injustice, and evil in this world and our eyes will see the depravity of humankind.  Parents, I do not envy you but am extremely grateful for you.
As you all know, Boston was in the midst of a terrorist attack.  Bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston marathon.  A shoot-out occurred between police and the suspects during a high speed car chase.  People were injured.  Many died.  Comments on social media range from livid responses filled with cursing and hopelessness to comments on the sovereignty and everlasting goodness of God.  “Mom, Dad… why do so many bad things happen?”… a question that will stump the wisest parent.  Reconciling evil in the world around us with the goodness of God is perhaps one of the most difficult questions to answer, for both child and parent.  These struggles, though far removed from our personal spheres of influence and life, become personal as we combine in our hearts and minds the craziness “out there” with the craziness “at home.”  Then the wrestling with God begins.
There is nothing I can write in this column to appease your “why” that even philosophers and theologians have attempted to respond to for centuries and have fallen short.  However, let me respond to the “what now” question that will inevitably consume our minds.  In a letter to believers in Rome, Paul writes to encourage them in a time of confusion and suffering.  Instead of focusing on the suffering experienced by many believers, Paul focuses and points to a God of hope who is sovereign over all things.  In the midst of suffering and trials, Paul states “we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.”  Through the Holy Spirit, perseverance is a product of suffering; it’s inevitable, it’ll happen automatically when we are covered with the power of God and acknowledge it in our lives.  Paul continues; “perseverance, character.”  When we persevere through these times, we are transformed into the image of Christ, becoming men and women that reflect the character and person of God.  Lastly, Paul states “and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:2-5).  When we reflect the image of Jesus via our character, hope flows in and out of our lives.  It will never disappoint (v. 5). 
Let’s cling to the hope that will never fail us.  Let’s strive to become more and more like Christ and show our younger brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, the generations to come, that with Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit in us, we have a hope and victory in the midst of chaos, confusion, and evil.  Our God reigns.  God bless you all.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
 April 21, 2013

I have really enjoyed going through our M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan together.  I love how we are able to have glimpses of the whole narrative of the Bible through this plan in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.  I pray that the Lord has been revealing to you His power through His Word.  For those of you who are new to NCFC and would like a systematic plan to read the Bible in a year, please ask any of the greeters and/or pastors for a reading plan card.  It is truly awesome!
On top of this plan, I often enjoy reading blogs, articles, and other resources about the “hot” topics of Christianity.  It’s helpful for me as a pastor to see what other pastors are thinking about as well.  Recently, I stumbled across “My Utmost For His Highest”, a day to day devotional written by Oswald Chambers, a Scottish evangelist, teacher, and author.  Here is a devotional that I was very moved by:
“I have appeared to you for this purpose . . .—Acts 26:16
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ.Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).”
I am constantly reminded and in awe that we are able, by Christ crucified, to have a relationship with Almighty God.  Think on it… a relationship that involves communication, happiness, sorrow, laughter, tears, intimacy, etc.  It’s available to you and me!  What an amazing thing that Christ came down to reconcile creation to Creator, to give us hope and purpose and furthermore use us for His glory.  I find these promises in the Word of God, the Bible, that we so often take for granted.  I encourage and challenge you to read the Word and pray for faith to know that this is God’s very words spoken to and for us that we may have life and life to the full.  God bless. 

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart 
January 27, 2013

“Pants for water so my soul longs for You” would probably be the appropriate response.  However, in recent times, the only experience that I’ve had with these creatures is along 495 going westbound, prancing along the highway, ending up on the hood of my car, ultimately leading to death on the side of a busy highway, and alone.  It seems to me, that there is a deer over-population issue in the DMV area.  A recent Washington Post article states that the chances of hitting a deer on the road is one in 102 in Virginia and in Maryland, one in 114.  So be careful as you drive.  Don’t text.  Don’t change the radio station.  Keep your eyes on the road because deer are everywhere.
The context behind this accident was that I was coming from a blessed evening of ministering to our college students, Impact, at the University of Maryland at College Park.  I was driving home from the meeting, thanking the Lord for His faithfulness, and out of nowhere I see a deer pop out right in front of me and with very little to no time to react, I hit the deer.  As a result of trying to avoid the deer, I had just missed the cement barrier on the left hand side.  But my car seemed to run fine so I continued home.  As I was making the left turn to enter my neighborhood, smoke began to fume out of the hood.  I was able to park but as I came to a stop, my engine shut off.  The Lord was indeed faithful to me and protected me from harm.  He is my Protector and my Shield and my Provider.  However, this is not a story of His protection, but more of the revelation of His grace through my sinful thoughts as I tried to make sense of this situation.
As I processed this event, I found myself trying to find something to blame and bring logic/reason to why things happen.  I asked the Lord “what did I do wrong?  Is there some kind of sin that deserves this type of punishment?”  Friends, the question I asked of the Lord may seem so absurd at first glance, but is that not the way we approach our relationship with Him and skew the concept of grace in our lives?  At times, it is extremely difficult to understand that, WHILE we were STILL sinners, Christ came to die for us.  That is grace!  That is good news!  Punishment was paid on the cross.  SIN DIED WITH JESUS!  But often times, we try to explain the corruption, evil, and all other sorts of injustice in the world by reason.  It simply can’t be done.  There’s no “logical” explanation for all the terrible things that happen to us and the world around us. 
Let’s take the other side’s approach.  We are blessed beyond words.  Most of us do not have to be concerned with where our meals come from day after day.  We are well provided for.  We do not have to worry about this upcoming winter, whether we will have a warm place to lay our heads or clothing to keep us warm when we do go outside.  So what separates us from those who do struggle with these issues among so many others?  Is it because we did something so good, worked so hard and have gained some type of merit to attain these things?  No.  I can only attribute everything that I have to the grace of our God and I can only respond with a humble “thank you, Lord”, confessing that every good and perfect gift comes from above.  So in the good and bad, God is unchanging; the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  Let’s stop over-complicating things and trying to find “logic” and “reason” behind everything that happens.  It may be difficult for many of us, but I pray for faith, which is confidence in what we hope for and certainty of what we do not see, and wisdom to see that His grace has power to cover all of our lives.  God bless you.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
October 28, 2012

I am a relatively simple guy.  My daily routine is nothing out of the ordinary: wake up, do devotionals, go to work, eat, relax, spend time with friends, watch tv, eat more, sleep and repeat.  Regardless of my simplicity and the ordinary nature of my daily routine, life is certainly not mundane.  When you work with as many different personalities and characters as I do, and with the involvement of a plethora of emotions (my own and others), God tends to use the above to “mix things up.”  Every day, my God takes the simple and the ordinary to reveal to me His intricate and exciting plan for me and the world, which ultimately leads me to Him.  How?  Let me share with you how God has been challenging me to do this.
For my enjoyment, I have been reading “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer.  I highly recommend it.  Here is what Tozer says about God:
“God is a person, and in the deep of His mighty nature He thinks, wills, enjoys, feels, loves, desires and suffers as any other person may.  In making Himself known to us He stays by the familiar pattern of personality.  He communicates with us through the avenues of our minds, our wills and our emotions.  The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the soul of the redeemed is the throbbing heart of New Testament religion.”
God is near to us.  Not only is He the God of the Old and New Testament times, but He is God of the 21st century and is well, aware of the world we live in today.  If we are able to fathom the mystery that the God of the universe, who spoke life into being, calls Himself Emmanuel, God with us, we begin to understand that God is a person with personality and not only does He ordain and allow things to happen, He cares about the people that things happen to!
Our relationship with God is no different than any other relationship we have with the people around us.  God gently and powerfully invites us to pursue Him.  God in His perfection makes Himself available to us, reaches out to us first, and loves and delights in our pursuit of Him. If that would only be our response to His grace!  Even more, He brings us and uses the different physical places that we find ourselves, different situations and circumstances, and simple routines, that perhaps we would seek Him and know Him more (Acts 13).
“How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers.  Everything is made to center upon the initial act of “accepting” Christ and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls.  We have been snared in the coils of a spurious logic which insists that if we have found Him we need no more to seek Him.”
Where are we in our pursuit of God?  Do we recognize that He took that first step through Jesus Christ in reconciling sinners to an amazing, personal relationship with Almighty God?  I pray that God would open our eyes to see how He uses the ordinary to draw us closer to an extraordinary God and that we would be driven to radically pursue our Awesome God.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
October 21, 2012