LifeChurch

Before U were thought of or time had begun,                                                                                   God even stuck U in the name of His Son.                                                                                           And each time U pray, U will see it’s true.                                                                                               U can’t spell out JesUs and not include U.

U are a pretty big part of His wonderful name,                                                                                For U, He was born; that’s why He came.                                                                                           And His great love for U is the reason He died.                                                                              It even takes U to spell crucified.

 Isn’t it thrilling and splendidly grand                                                                                                        He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?                                                                                        The stones split away, the gold trumpet blew.                                                                                 And this word resurrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,                                                                              He felt here was one thing He just had to mention.                                                                         “Go into the world and tell them it’s true                                                                                          That I love them all—Just like I love U.”

So many great people are spelled with a U,                                                                                       Don’t they have a right to know JesUs too?                                                                                           It all depends now on what U will do.                                                                                                He’d like them to know, but it all starts with U.

The author of this poem is unknown.  How appropriate and wonderfully written.  I just wanted to share this on Christmas Eve as we celebrate this wonderful Christmas season.  Remember, Christmas begins with Christ (literally)!

Merry Christmas everyone!

As you know (Life Church people) that we were scheduled to serve our community through Barnes and Noble gift wrapping today (12/17) and Wed. (12/19).  However, it got canceled due to overbooking on their part.  The person in charge of community networking (referring to B) from Barnes and Noble booked 3 groups to the same shift.

When I got there to set up @ 8:55am, the door wasn’t open (B & N opens at 9:00am) so I had to wait outside but there were several people already siting by gift wrapping section with everything ready to go.  I was puzzled!  The door opened at 9:00AM upon entering, I found out what happened… OVERBOOKED!

I don’t know how they got in but the 1st group came 15 min. before the door opened.  The 3rd group came about 45 minutes after me.

The person in charge of the 3rd group (which I will refer to him as T) found out about the overbooking and got real mad.  In the back of the store, T and I had a talk with the store supervisor like person.  T was mad and made some unpleasant comment about B for making this mess.  What are we to do?

According to the supervisor, LIFE CHURCH was on the “master” calendar to serve on 17th (at least today).  So I guess we had the “right” and I could have insisted to stay and do the gift wrapping.  That means, Barns and Noble had to ask the other two groups to leave (they were older than me and served in Barnes and Noble longer than us).  I also realized the other two groups were using this opportunity as a fund raiser.

I have told T and the supervisor that Life Church will back out this year.  Here is the reason why, I added, “Life Church wanted to serve the community.  Thus, whether it is Life Church or other organization, the main purpose of serving the community is taken care of.  So we are glad.  Since many of them are here already, we will cancel our spot.  However, if there is any empty shift later on, do give me a call (as I gave him my name card).  I can’t guarantee that we will fill in but we will do out best.”  With that I wished them Merry Christmas and left!

I am not sure what I should have done… but I feel as though I did the right thing.  When money (even fund raising for the good cause) is involved, people can get little too sensitive.    Let’s not become sensitive over this wonderful Christmas season.

I am glad that Life Church wasn’t planning to be out at B & N for $$ but because we love God and wanted to serve our local community!  Good job, Life Church!  I am proud of you!!!

A man was  driving his new boss around town when they happened to pass near the man’s home.  The man asked the new sales manager if he would like to stop by his house and meet his family.  His wife was baking an apple pie, and his children would be coming in from school.  He asked, “Would you like to meet them?”

“Let’s get one thing straight right now,” the manager replied.  “I’m not interested in your family.  I’m not interested in your wife or your children.  In fact, I’m not interested in you personally at all or any of the circumstances of your life.  All I’m interested in are results. All I’m interested in about you is your sales record!”

The man felt as though someone had slapped him across the face, but he realized something.  He realized that God is the opposite of that!  God is interested in his home and family.  God is interested in his wife and children.  God does care about him personally.  He is interested in all of the circumstances of his life.

He sounds so much like Santa Clause.  Think about the song, “Santa Clause is Coming to Town“…

You better watch out, you better not cry,                                                                                     you better not pout, I’m telling you why:                                                                                    Santa Clause is coming to town.                                                                                                He’s making a list and he’s checking it twice;                                                                           gonna find out whose naughty and nice.                                                                                        Santa Clause is coming to town.                                                                                             

It seems Santa is more interested in your behavior, action, and deeds than who you are.  On the other hand, God is not!  He is MORE interested in who you are than what you do.

I hope all of us would realize this during this Christmas season because God sent His Son to show how much He loves us and cares for us.  Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  He has a great dear of interest in our lives, our marriages, our families, our works, our studies, our relationships, our futures, and our circumstances, not just our performances.  That is why His name is “Immanuel” and that is the good news of Christmas.

Have a wonderful week!

If your name was Superman would you expect to get picked on?  Swedish tax authorities thought so and declined a request by Sara Leisten to name her newborn son after the superhero.  The officials were following legislation giving them veto power over names.  They nixed Staalman (Superman) citing its potential to attract ridicule later in life.  The decision prompted complaints of inconsistency in applying the law.  Previously, names such as Batman, Tarzan, and Bebben (after a soccer star) have been permitted.  Other names refused were Bajen (a soccer team) and Asterix.

The boy’s parents wanted this name for their son because he was born with one arm pointing skyward, posed in the way Superman flies.  Leisten plans to re-apply, this time with the name Staalmannen (The Superman).  If it is approved, one thing is clear, little Superman would have a name he can never live up to.

You and I have a name.  My name means, “a symbol of victory,” and I try to live up to my name.  Jesus was given a name which means the “Lord is salvation” and He lived up to His name.   Jesus came, died and resurrected to give us hope and salvation.   I do not know what your name means, however, may be we can ask God to give us strength, wisdom, character, and heart to live up to the name given to all believers, “Christian”- the one who belongs to Christ.

Merry early Christmas!!!

How many times have you heard the saying, “Let’s just bury the hatchet!”?  It carries the meaning of resolving conflict in a relationship by forgetting the past.

This figurative language is likely to be originated from American Indian a couple of centuries ago.  When making peace agreement between tribes, chiefs would bury a hatchet as a symbolic gesture to show no more hostilities toward one another.

Our custom of shaking right hands when making peace, deal, or settling a dispute may have came from this act of burying a hatchet.  The right hand, the hatchet hand, is shook to show that there is no weapon hidden or held.

How wonderful our relationships would be if we “bury” more hatchets!  Paul told the church inEphesus(Eph. 4:32) and to thechurchofColossae(3:13) to forgive one another as our Lord forgave us.

I pray that we would bury hatchets this week and extend our “right” hand to those around us… especially as we have moved into this wonderful Christmas season.  This season should remind us that God had “buried” the hatched and extend His forgiving hand through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Wonder Girls, Korean girl singing group, has been sensation in Korea as well as other countries.  In fact, their popular song, “Nobody” even made 76th place on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as the first Korean Pop group.

Wonder Girls’ group leader, Sunye announced yesterday she will marry her missionary fiance on Jan. 26, 2013 and thus, she will give up her position.  She quoted from Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

It wasn’t a hasty decision but she gave a serious thought and who wouldn’t, right?  What now?  She chose a Canadian-Korean missionary based in Haiti whom she met when she was on a mission trip.  Thus, she chose marriage, man and mission over money market career.  That’s something… especially in this generation.

Peter asked Jesus in Mat. 19:27, “We have left everything to follow you!  What then will there be for us?”

Jesus answered, “Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth… when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”  (Matt. 19:28-30).

I am reminded of Chris Tomlin’s song, “I Will Follow”:

Where you go, I’ll go                                                                                                                 Where you stay, I’ll stay                                                                                                                    When you move, I’ll move                                                                                                                       I will follow you                                                                                                                             Who you love, I’ll love                                                                                                                   How you serve, I’ll serve                                                                                                                  If this life I lose, I will follow you                                                                                                           I will follow you, yeah

I commend Sunye, who is only 24 years old and while on top of her career and fame, for willing to give up to FOLLOW.  Something for all of us to think about.

There is a story about Jonathan Swift who wrote Gulliver’s Travels.  One day Swift was traveling with his servant.  His servant was a bit lazy and had a bad attitude.  Thus, Swift’s travel with him was extra challenging.

One morning after over night stay at a hotel, Swift found his shoes quite dirty so he asked his servant to clean them.  But the servant grinned and said, “Master, why do you want me to go through the hassle of cleaning when your shoes will be dirty again real soon?”

Dumbfound by his servant’s response, Swift ordered him to get ready the horse to travel.  While he was getting ready, Swift requested something to the hotel manager.

The servant returned and told Swift that the horse is ready.  Without a word, Swift went down to the hotel restaurant and start eating his breakfast alone.  Upon finishing his breakfast, Swift told his servant, “Okay, let’s leave now.”

His servant was surprised and said, “But master, I haven’t had anything to eat yet.”

Swift grinned back and replied, “Oh, breakfast?  You don’t need to eat it, right?  I mean, you will become hungry again soon.  So why bother eat it?”

After that comment, the story is told that his servant never complaint or acted lazy.

This story reminds me of how we are called to be faithful and obedient in ALL things.  There is nothing that is insignificant in His Kingdom ministry.  I would love to hear Jesus saying to me at the end of my life, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Jesus said in the parable of talents to the servant who was faithful with his talents, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt 25:21).

If my master calls me for anything, my answer shall be like that of Isaiah’s or Samuel’s, “Here I am, Lord.  SPEAK to me!”

As I was preparing for the 2012 Thanksgiving message, I wanted to list some reasons why I am thankful.  In doing so, I have learned the following lessons:

1. I didn’t think I can make a list close to hundred in less than 30 minutes without having to go into very detail.  I thought I would run out of things to be thankful for.

2. Making the list gave me greater appreciation for the family, friends and things I have around me.

3. Counting the blessing helped me to be grateful for everyday things that I have never thanked before.

4. I found myself there are more things to be thankful for than ungrateful for.

Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:18) and I think I can understand what Paul meant little better.

Here are some of my reasons why I am thankful…

1. I am alive.
2. I can have at least one more day to be with my family.
3. My teeth are strong and healthy to enjoy Thanksgiving meals.
4. My eyes are good enough to see and enjoy the beauty.
5. My ears are good enough to enjoy the music and sounds.
6. I am married to a beautiful wife for 22 years and have 3 wonderful children.
7. My family loves the Lord.
8. I love Life Church people and people to serve.
9. My hypertension made our family to eat healthier than before.
10. I have not died before my mother.
11. I have so many friends and people I have come across in my life.
12. I live in the bay area.

I hope you would take little bit of your time to do this on this Thanksgiving holiday.    Happy Thanksgiving everyone!                                                                                                     Pastor Loren

The king of a certain country visited one of his small villages.  The people in that village were very critical to one another.  The wealthy called the poor, “a bunch of lazy people” and the poor called the rich, “self-centered egotistic people.”  Definitely, there was no sign of love or respect for one another.

When the king visited the village, the village people threw a banquet on behalf of the king.  At the end of the banquet, the king announced that his son would stay behind to take care of certain matters before rejoining him in the palace.  With that, the king requested the village people to kindly take care his son.

However, the king did not tell anyone where the prince will stay, what he looked like, how old he was, or how long he will stay in that village.

After the king had left, the village people started to change.  They began to treat one another with respect and kindness.  All because none knew who the prince was, and they wanted to make sure the prince was treated well.  Therefore, people greeted each other with a smile, spoke to one another in encouraging words, and especially took care of the young people with great love.

The people of the village changed from critical and disrespectful to full of love, respect, and kindness people.

A year later, the king revisited this village.  Upon the arrival of the king, the leader of the town came and asked, “My lord, our village has changed so much since you left because of the prince.  However, we still don’t know who he is.  Now, could you so kindly tell us who your son is before you take him back with you?”

The king laughed with great joy and said, “How can I take my son with me when he is already in the palace?  The “son” I left behind is called LOVE.  And how can I take my “son” who has changed you so beautifully with me.  Please continue take care of my son.”

God’s son, Jesus said, “Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”  (John 13:34-35).  Let’s take care of the “SON” who is in midst of us in His Spirit that we may become loving, kind, genuine, and caring community of faith.
I love you Life Church people!

Pastor Loren

A company announced of hiring and the job interview was to start at 4:00AM.  Though it was very early, many people showed up for it.  However, even pass 4:00AM, the door was kept shut and locked without any sign of anyone from the company.

Those who showed up for the interview started to complain about how inconsiderate, not professional and so on.  While many left, some stayed and finally, the door opened at 9:00AM, five hours later.

A little after 9:00AM, the interview started and interviewees were dumb founded because of the questions the interviewer asked.  The questions were something like, “What is the capital city of California?”, “How many fingers do people have?”, and “What is the name of the president of our country?”

Several days later those who had the interview received a letter of acceptance.  And in that letter was the explanation of why they passed the interview and are hired.

First, you were punctual.  We have seen you arrived at 4:00AM.  Second, you were patient.  You have waited for five hours when you could have left.  We have verified your patience.  Finally the third, you have a gentle personality.  You have answered unrelated and annoying questions with great patience and faithfully.

Congratulations!  You have shown what we are looking for in our employees:1) punctuality; 2) perseverance and endurance; and 3) well rounded character.

This “strange interview” reminded me of what James 1:2-3 said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”  We ought to be joyful knowing that God can use those challenging moments to mold us to be more like Him and for His Kingdom ministry.

I guess the trials in our lives can be consider “stranger interviews.”  I pray that all of Life Church people would pass their “strange interviews” this week.