Who's excited for Ray's baptism this weekend?? It will be a gathering of family and friends, particularly the Young Adult Ministry. We will be there in support of him, and if you are in the area and can come, we'd love to see you!
This is a HUGE milestone for Ray, and we all want to be with him, helping him walk one more step closer to God.
We hope to see you on Sunday! (there will be delicious cake!)
August 11, 2011
June 15, 2011
Congratulations!
Graduates, congratulations!
Whether it be from middle school, high school, college, or secondary school, we congratulate you on a well-earned diploma.
Now go and do good with it!
Whether it be from middle school, high school, college, or secondary school, we congratulate you on a well-earned diploma.
Now go and do good with it!
June 1, 2011
June - Summer!
SO, it has been a very long time since I posted. I hope everyone's had a great spring season! I know some of you are getting through finals soon, so best of luck to you! And to those of you who just finished school, congrats on another year finished!
I just recently finished reading Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, the 3rd installment in the Robert Langdon series (remember The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons?), and the end of the book brought to light something very important. It is not important in only the Bible and in religion, but also in oneself. Here are a few excerpts:
"When you start to understand the cryptic parables in the Bible, [...] you realize it's a study of the human mind."
"When the Bible tells us to 'go build our temple'... a temple that we must 'build with no tools and making no noise,' what temple do you think it's talking about?"
"[T]he Scriptures are well aware of the power latent within us, and they are urging us to harness that power... urgin us to build the temples of our minds."
"[T]he gnostic Gospel of Mary: Where the mind is, there is the treasure."
"You're familiar with the Bible's account of 'manna from heaven'?"
Langdon saw no connection. "You mean the magical substance that fell from heaven to nourish the hungry?"
"Exactly. The substance was said to heal the sick, provide everlasting life, and, strangely, cause no waste in those who consumed it." Katherine paused, as if waiting for him to understand." Robert?" she prodded. "A kind of nourishment that fell from heaven?" She tapped her temple. "Magically heals the body? Creates no waste? Don't you see? These are code words, Robert! Temple is code for 'body.' Heaven is code for 'mind.' Jacob's ladder is your spine. And manna is this rare brain secretion. When you see these code words in Scripture, pay attention. They are often markers for a more profound meaning concealing beneath the surface."
"This is a great gift [...] and God is waiting for us to understand it. All around the world, we are gazing skyward, waiting for God... never realizing that GOd is waiting for us." Katherine paused, letting her words soak in. "We are creators, and ye we naively play the role of 'the created.' We see ourselves as helpless sheep buffeted around by the God who made us. We kneel like frightened children, begging for help, for forgiveness, for good luck. But once we realize that we are truly created in the Creator's image, we wil start to understand that we, too, must be Creators. When we understand this fact, the doors will burst wide open for human potential."
All of these quotes combine to make us realize that our body is a temple. Our mind is the temple that needs to be built, that has an outer temple called the Holy Place and an inner sanctuary called the Holy of Holies. Once we realize that our mind is what guides us, and our spirit is what drives us, we can do great things. Once we understand fully that God is within each and every one of us, and that we ourselves are Creators, we can do God's work and fully realize our potential to do good in the world. This Young Adult Ministry is all about coming together as a community and sharing our stories. It is about being able to do God's work in our own communities and together as a whole. If someone does God's work in Taiwan, it can be shared and felt here in California. As long as we can harness the power of God within us, we can do anything we want. This is the message presented here at the end of The Lost Symbol. The context in which the character, Katherine, is speaking of the power of the mind may be in future science, but if we break it down and actually consider what is being presented, it will tell us that our mind can do anything, and if we have the will power and the belief, we can do anything. We can influence anything to do God's work with and for us.
I think if all of us can just shed a little bit of light on the dark unknown abyss that is our mind and brain, we can understand just a little bit of the potential that is there. But we must look to great thinkers and doers, like Mother Theresa, for guidance. Yes, we praise God, and look to the heavens above to speak to God, but if we can comprehend that God is within us, and that he speaks to us from within, we may be able to get closer to God and finally understand what it is we are to do.
Comment some thoughts, please! And read the book if you get a chance!
March 21, 2011
March - Matthew 17: 1-9
"This is my beloved Son; listen to him."
1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli'jah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." 5 He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead."
Are you prepared to see God's glory? God is eager to share his glory with us! We get a glimpse of this when the disciples see Jesus transfigured in glory on the mountain. Mark's account tells us that Jesus' garments became glistening, intensely white. When Moses met with God on Mount Sinai the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God (see Exodus 34:29). Paul says that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its brightness (2 Cor. 3:7). In this incident Jesus appeared in glory with Moses, the great lawgiver of Israel, and with Elijah, the greatest of the prophets, in the presence of three of his beloved apostles. What is the significance of this mysterious appearance? Jesus went to the mountain knowing full well what awaited him in Jerusalem — his betrayal, rejection and crucifixion. Jesus very likely discussed this momentous decision to go to the cross with Moses and Elijah. God the Father also spoke with Jesus and gave his approval, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." The cloud which overshadowed Jesus and his apostles fulfilled the dream of the Jews that when the Messiah came the cloud of God's presence would fill the temple again (see Exodus 16:10, 19:9, 33:9; 1 Kings 8:10; 2 Maccabees 2:8). Peter, James, and John were privileged witnesses of the glory of Christ. As disciples of Christ, we are also called to be witnesses of his glory. We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). The Lord wants to reveal his glory to us, his beloved disciples. Do you seek his presence with faith and reverence?
Prayer: Lord, draw me near to you and let me see your glory. May I never doubt your love and saving help. Help me forever seek your presence with faith and love. Amen.
1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli'jah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." 5 He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead."
Are you prepared to see God's glory? God is eager to share his glory with us! We get a glimpse of this when the disciples see Jesus transfigured in glory on the mountain. Mark's account tells us that Jesus' garments became glistening, intensely white. When Moses met with God on Mount Sinai the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God (see Exodus 34:29). Paul says that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its brightness (2 Cor. 3:7). In this incident Jesus appeared in glory with Moses, the great lawgiver of Israel, and with Elijah, the greatest of the prophets, in the presence of three of his beloved apostles. What is the significance of this mysterious appearance? Jesus went to the mountain knowing full well what awaited him in Jerusalem — his betrayal, rejection and crucifixion. Jesus very likely discussed this momentous decision to go to the cross with Moses and Elijah. God the Father also spoke with Jesus and gave his approval, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." The cloud which overshadowed Jesus and his apostles fulfilled the dream of the Jews that when the Messiah came the cloud of God's presence would fill the temple again (see Exodus 16:10, 19:9, 33:9; 1 Kings 8:10; 2 Maccabees 2:8). Peter, James, and John were privileged witnesses of the glory of Christ. As disciples of Christ, we are also called to be witnesses of his glory. We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). The Lord wants to reveal his glory to us, his beloved disciples. Do you seek his presence with faith and reverence?
Prayer: Lord, draw me near to you and let me see your glory. May I never doubt your love and saving help. Help me forever seek your presence with faith and love. Amen.
January 30, 2011
February: Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Why does the scripture refer to us as the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world"? What does salt and light have to teach us about God and his reign on earth?
Salt was a valuable commodity back in the day. People traded with it, the same way we trade with gold and stock; it had great value. It was very useful in hot climates before the electricity and refrigeration was invented; in addition to providing flavor to food, it was used to preserve meats, keeping them from spoiling. The importance of salt is where we come in. Jesus used the image of salt to describe how his disciples are to live in the world. As salt purifies and preserves, so must the disciple in the world of human society by purifying and preserving society for His righteousness and peace.
Light was, and still is, very important to society; it enabled people to see, move, and work in the dark. The Bible uses light in the physical sense, but also in a metaphorical sense - the Jews understood "light" as an expression of inner beauty, truth, and the goodness of God. In the book of Psalms, we see how light takes on a conceptual meaning: In his light we see light (36:9); His word is a lamp that guides our steps (119:105). God's grace not only illuminates the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Just like salt, Jesus uses the image of light/a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illuminates the darkness and enables one to see clearly, so does the light of Christ shining in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God's kingdom. Our lifelong mission is to always be the "light-bearers" of Christ so that other may see the truth of the gospels and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception. Nothing can be hidden or a secret. While we may hide things from each other and from ourselves, and be tempted to shut our eyes and selves from the consequences of our sins, everything is known to God, who sees all. And yet, there is a great freedom and joy that comes from living in God' light and from seeking the truth always. We have all fallen to the temptation to hide from the consequences of our sins, but as we learned in last month's lesson, Jesus was sent here for our sins; can we all follow His Son and learn to correct our ways? Can you share if you know the joys and freedom of living in God's light?
Prayer of the month: Lord, fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and set me free from the blindness of sin and deception. Guide me through the dark so that I may see your ways and understand your will for my life and those around me. Help me radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Note: Come to church on February 13!! The Youth Group will be leading the English Service, and I will be there to lead a Young Adult discussion! I hope to see you all there :)
Note: Come to church on February 13!! The Youth Group will be leading the English Service, and I will be there to lead a Young Adult discussion! I hope to see you all there :)
January 11, 2011
January: Matthew 3:13-17
“The Baptism of Jesus”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Why did Jesus submit himself to John’s baptism? In Luke, chapter 3, John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ baptism is the acceptance and the beginning of his mission as God’s suffering Servant, and he submitted himself entirely to his Father’s will. Out of love, he agreed to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust and submission to God?
Our Father exclaimed his delight in his Son and spoke aloud for everyone in the land to hear. The Holy Spirit was also present Jesus' ministry began the day he rose from the waters of the Jordan river. Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all who come to believe in Him. At his baptism, the heavens opened and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, signifying a new creation.
How can we begin to understand the mystery of Jesus’ baptism? Gregory of Nazianzus, a seventh century Church father tells us: “Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him." Do you want to see changes in your life? By being an instrument of the gospel, can the gospel make some of these changes? The Lord is ever ready to renew us in his Spirit. We are called to be the “light” to those around us; The Lord wants his love and truth to shine through us so that others may see the goodness and truth of God’s message of salvation.
Your prayer for the week: Ask the Lord to fill you with his Holy Spirit so that you may radiate the joy of the gospel to those around you.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Why did Jesus submit himself to John’s baptism? In Luke, chapter 3, John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ baptism is the acceptance and the beginning of his mission as God’s suffering Servant, and he submitted himself entirely to his Father’s will. Out of love, he agreed to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust and submission to God?
Our Father exclaimed his delight in his Son and spoke aloud for everyone in the land to hear. The Holy Spirit was also present Jesus' ministry began the day he rose from the waters of the Jordan river. Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all who come to believe in Him. At his baptism, the heavens opened and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, signifying a new creation.
How can we begin to understand the mystery of Jesus’ baptism? Gregory of Nazianzus, a seventh century Church father tells us: “Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him." Do you want to see changes in your life? By being an instrument of the gospel, can the gospel make some of these changes? The Lord is ever ready to renew us in his Spirit. We are called to be the “light” to those around us; The Lord wants his love and truth to shine through us so that others may see the goodness and truth of God’s message of salvation.
Your prayer for the week: Ask the Lord to fill you with his Holy Spirit so that you may radiate the joy of the gospel to those around you.
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