LifeChurch

A phone rang at 3:00am On Nov. 13th, 1953, to one fire station in Copenhagen.  Eric received the call and a lady on the other line screamed, “Help!  Save me!”  With that cry for help, the lady must have fainted.

There was no opportunity to ask for the address but Eric’s quick thinking suggest a possible method to the captain.  The captain was reluctant because it might scare the entire city.  However Eric convinced the captain that the people would understand that it was the only method they have to save that one person’s life.

The captain approved and immediately ordered to send out all 20 fire trucks while running their sirens.  Soon after Eric was able to hear siren over the phone that was left on by the person who was in life and death situation.  While sirens were going off, the captain ordered each fire truck to turn off it’s siren in the order #1, #2, #3 and etc.  When the fire truck #12 was ordered to turn off it’s siren, Eric couldn’t hear the siren over the phone and thus, he knew the lady lived near by fire truck #12’s location.

However, how can they find which house?  The captain ordered the #12 truck to make a loud announcement over it’s microphone.  “People of Copenhagen, please help us find a lady who is  in need of our help desperately.  Would you, please, turn OFF your light right now!”  Soon after Eric was able to hear this over the phone.  Everyone started to turn off their light and in midst of darkness, the #12 truck was able to see a house with a light on and it was the lady’s house.

Eric was able to hear the pounding on the door.  Again there was breaking down the door sound.  Then soon heard, “The lady is unconscious but she is alive.”  It was the quick thinking of Eric and his heart to save saved her.  I am sure no one in Copenhagen made a complaint after hearing of this news.

With compassion, tenacity, and quick thinking, we maybe able to help those who are in need.  Who knows our little inconvenience, little sacrifice and little work can bring hope to that ONE person in Christ.

Have a wonderful week!

On July 18^th, 1989, Mark Wellman made history by climbing 3,000-foot face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park and on September 4, 1991, Wellman and Corbett set out to conquer Yosemite’s other big wall, Half Dome. Thirteen days later they reached the top of the 2,200 foot vertical Tis-Sa-Ack route on Half Dome.  Though many made this attempt, what makes Mark’s accomplishment very unique and consider history making ?

Mark Wellman, has been a mountaineer since the age of 12 but an unfortunate accident on his descent of the Seven Gables in the John Muir Wilderness left him paralyzed from the waist down in 1982.

He could have given up on mountain climbing.  In fact, he could have given up on all climbing since hiking  a vertical climb with two strong feet is challenging enough but he didn’t.  He trained and even designed “adaptive” equipment.  He climbed the rope his friend set for him by pulling himself up using only his upper body strength.  It took him 9 days pulling himself 6 inches at a time.  It took more 7,000 pulls to get up there but he did it!

What an inspiration!  Because of Mark, I am positive there will be many more physically challenged people attempting to accomplish greater challenge than their physical limitation.

When David killed Goliath, he did more than just slaying a giant but he set a precedent.  There are 4 more stories of giant slaying in 2 Samuel 21 and all because one little boy who trusted in God that he can do anything in Him.

So don’t give up.  Don’t let “El Capitan” stops you from climbing and achieving great and mighty things for God and in God.

Have a blessed week!

Brian Davis, fairly unknown PGA player and yet teaches us about character and integrity during very important game.

During 2010 Verizon Heritage tournament, he was playing for a win at the playoff with Jim Furyk.  It was likely, very likely, that he wasn’t going to win since he had 35-foot downhill putt for par while his opponent, Jim Furyk had three-putt from just off the green.  However, it wasn’t the odds but the character that is to be noticed.

In his approach to green from bunker, Davis ticked a loose reed before hitting the ball which in USGA Rule 23 is a two-stroke penalty.  It was undetectable to the naked eye and yet, he felt that his club must have touched and thus, request super slo-mo and in fact, found him touching it.  There was a possibility that no one could have noticed it and giving him a chance to win but with self-imposing penalty, the game was over for him!

That penalty cost (if he was to win) was $400,000 on that Sunday.  However, in reality, it would have cost him more than that since the winning would have given him a spot to the Masters, possible invitationals, endorsement bonuses and other opportunities.  Also it was going to be his first winning at Verizon and who know his life might have changed.

Davis said during an interview, “It was one of the best things I’ve done… I know I could go to sleep every night with no worry… I did the right thing and it was a good lesson for my kids… plenty of golfers would have done it before and plenty of golfers would do it after… HONOR, INTEGRITY… at face value they are only words but they become actions over our own accord, they reveal our own true character.”

There are many things money CAN buy but also there are many things money CAN’T buy… one of them is this great CHARACTER!  Well done Davis!

Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning.  He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service… only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him.  He asked people for change to buy food… NO ONE in the church gave him change.  He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church but was asked by the ushers if he would please sit n the back.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such.  When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation… “We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek”  The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up… and started walking down the aisle… the clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him… he walked up the podium and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment…. then he recited from Matt. 25:34-40.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’’

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning.  Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.  He then said, “Today I see a gathering of people… not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples… when will YOU decide to become disciples?”  He then dismissed service until next week telling the congregation that being a Christian is more than something you claim… but it’s something you live by and share with others.

This is a story that has been circulating through social media recently.  I believe this is not a true story though it might have been based on a true story of a Tennessee pastor Willie Lyle of Sango United Methodist Church who lived as a homeless person for a week and preached a sermon based on his experience or it could have been based on the famous book called In His Steps by Charles Sheldon.  Nontheless, it speaks volume of how sometimes we, Christians, don’t behave in a way that honors our heavenly Father.  He is loving, compassionate, understanding, forgiving, patience and kind… and yet, we often judge quickly based on persons look, job, ethnicity, color of skin, or even other difference than of ours.

Today, I am praying that when a homeless person does come to Life Church that he/she would be welcomed and accepted without frowned upon or judged.

Have a blessed week!

Talmud has a story of a man who owned a small boat.  Whenever spring came around, he would take his family out on the boat and went fishing in the lake near by their place.

One year at the end of the summer, he brought the boat in since he won’t be using it until next spring.  When he did, he noticed a small hole on the bottom of the boat but he thought he will fix it next year since he won’t be using it for a while.  However, he did call a painter to repaint the boat.

The next spring came around when the man’s two sons wanted to ride the repainted boat.  So the man launched the boat with just two of his sons in it but he forgot about the hole in the boat.

After couple of hours later, he remembered about the hole.  Frantically he ran to the lake because not only they were inexperienced with the boat but they didn’t know how to swim.

However, by the time he arrived at the lake, the boys were done boating and were about to head back home.  The man checked and saw the hole was fixed.  He wondered who might have fixed it and then, it came to him.

The man took a nice present and went visit the painter.  The painter was puzzled why he brought such a nice gift and said, “You have paid me already for the paint job.  What is this for?”

The man said, “I have only asked you to paint the boat but you have fixed the hole which saved my two sons from drowning.  And for that I cannot thank you enough.”

Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles (Matt. 5:41).  Doing, giving, serving and going that “extra” mile can leave a huge impact on people.  Going above and beyond the call of duty is what Christians should be known for.  Have a blessed week/end!

A great lesson found in the traditional Chinese four-character idiom 孟母三遷 (맹모삼천) which refers to the legend that Mencius’ mother moved their home three times for her son.  She moved to three locations finding those locations to be suitable for his upbringing.  First she moved to near mortuary and there the young Mencius learn to imitated undertaker.  When they moved to the second place by marketplace, he learned to imitated a shopkeeper.  Finally when they moved by a school, he imitated studying like a student.

Why did this mother moved by mortuary and marketplace when she could have moved by school in first place?  The explanation is that first she wanted to teach her son about reality of life and death.  Then, to teach him the reality of what work is, she moved to a marketplace.  Finally, she moved by school to teach true education that comes from someone who understood the reality of life, work and death.

We live in generation where so many young parents are quick to move to a good school district hoping our children will get a good education.  Nothing wrong with that but perhaps, we ought to think about Mencius’ mother’s approach in rearing children.  I believe teaching our children about the life in Christ and His Word, the brevity of life, appreciating hard work, integrity, character, and positive attitude toward life before academic education would properly educate our children.  Proverb 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

God bless and have a wonderful week!

Once upon a time in a land far away, lived two young men. The two brothers were likable, but undisciplined, with a wild streak in them. Their mischievous behavior turned serious when they began stealing sheep from the local farmers, a very serious crime in this pastoral place, so long ago and far away.

In time, the thieves were caught. The local farmers decided their fate: The

two brothers would be branded on the forehead with the letters ST for “Sheep Thief.” This sign they would carry with them forever.  One brother was so embarrassed by this branding that he ran away; he was never heard from again. The other brother, filled with remorse and reconciled to his fate, chose to stay and try to make amends to the villagers he had wronged. At first the villagers were skeptical and would have nothing to do with him. But this brother was determined to make reparation for his offenses.

Whenever there was a sickness, the sheep thief came to care for the ill with soup and a soft touch. Whenever there was work needing to be done, the sheep thief came to help with a lending hand. It made no difference if the person were rich or poor, the sheep thief was there to help. Never accepting pay for his good deeds, he lived his life for others.

Many years later, a traveler came through the village. Sitting at a sidewalk cafe eating lunch, the traveler saw an old man with a strange brand on his forehead seated nearby. The stranger noticed that all the villagers who passed the old man stopped to share a kind word, to pay their respects; children stopped their play to give and receive a warm hug.

Curious, the stranger asked the cafe owner, “What does that strange brand on the old man’s head stand for?”

“I don’t know. It happened so long ago…” the cafe owner replied.  Then, pausing briefly for a moment of reflection, he continued: “…but I think it stands for SAINT”.

If I had that “ST” on my forehead when I was young, I wonder how would people remember that “ST” on my forehead now?  Am I living in kindness and love today that people would start believing that ST as “saint”?   I wonder again…

There is a story told of a man named Louis Fox who was an American professional billiards player.  On September 7^th, 1965, he entered a championship in New York trying to defend his title as American champion.                                   

Fox was on his way to victory with a large margin between his opponent when a fly landed on the cue ball.  At first, he found it funny as he waved his cut stick over the ball to scare the fly away.  Then, when the fly landed again on the cue ball, he waved again which brought laughter from the audience.  However, when the fly landed the third time, he was a bit annoyed and in his attempt to scare the fly away, Fox touched the cue ball, technically a miscue, thus forfeiting his shot.

The opponent made the most of this opportunity to reduce the score and eventually won the tournament.  The stunned Fox left the billiard hall and committed suicide by diving into the Genesee River though there are variations that the drowning took immediately after the match; the next day; or some time later.

This story reminds me of how often I over-react and get annoyed over little things.  Maybe we have had tailgated the one who cut in front of us or maybe we have had screamed at a referee or coach for unfair call of our son’s or daughter’s game.  Lacking patience and kindness, I have done things that I regret later on.

More than just regret, I need to keep in mind that what I say and how I behave will be a testimony of my faith in Jesus Christ.  Acts 16 says that Paul and Silas behaved a certain way that captured the heart of jailer and thus, he asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  May our actions be honorable to God this week.

Samuel Morrison was a faithful missionary who served 25 years in Africa.  In failing health, Morrison returned to the United States.  Also traveling home on the same ocean liner was President Teddy Roosevelt who had been in Africa for 3 weeks of hunting expedition.

As the large ship pulled into New York harbor, it looked as though the entire city had come out to welcome the president.  Music filled the air, banners everywhere, balloons flew all over the sky, flashbulbs were popping like popcorns, and confetti streamed down like snow.

As Mr. president stepped into sight, the crowd exploded in applause and cheers.  It was truly a reception fit for a king.  While all eyes were on the president, Mr. Morrison quietly slipped through the crowd.  None of the applause was for him and no one was there to welcome him home.

His heart began to ache as he began to pray… “Lord, the president had been in Africa for 3 weeks, killing animals, and the whole world turns to welcome him home.  I’ve been given 25 years of my life in Africa, serving You, and no one has greeted me or even knows I am here.”

He then felt the gentle touch of God and sensed the Spirit say, “But my dear child, you not home yet!”

These days, I think about my heavenly home more often and I was reminded of Heb. 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  (NIV)

I am being bruised in my heart and feel like amputating a part of my body as I serve the Lord, but l look forward to the day that I will be coming home!  The great cloud of witnesses who went before me encourages me to keep fighting the good fight.

Have a great week everyone!