Anything for Maddy

My sister had a daughter this past January, and her lovely daughter's name is Madeline (Mad-E-Line). She is just the most incredible person in the world. She's reaching 9 months this coming week, and she already has a personality of her own. She knows what she wants, she knows what she likes, and she is good at getting it. Of course, it doens't take much for any of us to heed to her beckoning cry. She is the only baby that I know that at her age, can watch baby einstein for more than 20 min...without getting bored. =)

This is going to sound really cheesy, but I really really really love her. My heart melts when I think about her, and when I have a bad day, thinking about her, or looking at pictures of her can melt my cold and hardened heart. She is amazing. Anything for Maddy.

Jewish Things

This semester, I've been taking two Hebrew classes - one on Jewish culture and the language, and the other on Jewish history from the standpoint of the Jewish people.

And my WORD they are amazing classes. I knew that I've appreciated ancient near eastern culture, but to be blown away like this only makes me second guess my Korean-American-ness. I mean, it's just amazing the way those people understood the bible. It's amazing to me the way they understand God, and His activities; His people and their activities.

It is becoming more evident and more clear that God is all about inter-dependence and community. I have no doubt that God is teaching me to reach out to people. Not just reach out as in outreach, but reach out to those around me. About this time last week, I posted about community and how it's just such an awesome thing to be surrounded by people you love. God, in His sovereignty is showing me this in all different angles. Already in the way people have been encouraging me, Dr. Widbin in his classes, even in my own sermon prep, I'm realizing more and more, that even if my sermon has NOTHING to do with community, it still comes down to the simple fact that WE have a relationship with God and with others. AMAZING.

I had an "aha" moment in class this morning. Something that I knew, and something that I've heard so many times before. The relationship between God and I, simply (even though we can define it in many ways), is that He is my Father. In Christ, I have inherited the blessings of His child. How many times have I heard this before since I was...well, a child? But for some reason, it just hit me so hard this morning. The proff was sharing the story about the prodigal son, and I know that of recent, due to Tim Keller's new book, The Prodigal God, there has been a lot of speculation on legalism and the older brother. And I guess I was expecting to hear this from the proff's mouth. But no - he simply shared the parable and interpreted it the way every other Sunday school pastor has. God invites the prodigal son back home.

The punch line:

The son came back home - wanting and expecting to work his way back in as a servant. But the father, without saying anything, clothes him and invites him back in as his son.

The nature of that relationship is that the father was always his father, and the son was always his son - no matter the sin, no matter the distance, no matter the betrayal. Nothing can change that relationship.

So I sat in class, and I soaked it in. speechless. I have always related myself to the younger son (and many a times the elder son), but never have I related myself to the Father in that way. The nature of my relationship with God, is that He is my father. I cannot work my way back in. I cannot change my status from child to worker of the house. I am His, and He is mine.

Maybe two more?

okay. one more.

okay. Costa Rica deserves some video narration

Things I liked over the Summer! part II

Our lovely lovely hotel in Costa Rica

Only one picture of the AMAZING food we ate everyday...WOW....

this is a picture of pico de gallo, plantains, and of course, rice and beans.

While we were in Costa Rica, we went on a hiking/horse riding trail which was absolutely gorgeous. Here is the waterfall that we swam around, a view from the top, and our wonderful horse guide Miguel! (the horses stopped by to get some water)

And these are my lovely friends who made this trip even more beautiful than the scenery!

PURA VIDA!

NK opens their borders

Heck yeah.

Are we getting closer?

Grab some tissues.

NK

Things I liked over the Summer! part I

This past summer I decided to spoil myself and went on not just one, but TWO vacations.

And well, I'll let the picture speak for themselves:

Punta Cana, Domincan Republic

The resort that we stayed at was NH Real Arena - Kind of a weird name for such a nice place!

And these are my lovely friends!

Goodbye All-Inclusive Vacation that gave me so much rest and joy...

Blessed

Our youth ministry had our Genesis Lock-In this week for both the junior and senior high. And it was a great time. We didn't really hit our goal of trying to hammer down a theme/vision for the year, but are on our way. The biggest blessing of the weekend was to experience a sense of comfort and closeness with the students. Comfortable enough that we were able to just wake up, roll around the apartment - do nothing in particular. We had a rough idea of the schedule for the day, and in most cases, I would be on top of it, kicking everyone's butts to get out of the house. But nope. I was completely unworried, lazy, and comfortable, along with all the other students. This is going to be a good year. <3

EDEN

We went to visit Won Jae Jundo at the soccer field where the rest of his family was, and we got to see Tyler play soccer. Eden is a soccer queen. I didn't see her play, but I believe it.

This is her. She is going to grow up to be a super-star.

NORA

Technically, Eden's younger sister Nora is my best friend. She is a strong 3 year old who is in love with Spider Man. Ever since they moved, I haven't been able to keep up with her, and more recently I think I lost my "best-friend" status with her. Sad. But I bought her a gift - I'm bribing her way backto me. WUAHAHAHA....evil........

Weekends are so great, and awesome. But come Sunday night, or Monday, I'm tired. I'm just so grateful to be doing the things I enjoy - I can't imagine working in an office anymore. I worked in an office for two years - and it wasn't hard, but it wasn't going anywhere either. I love being able to vision and dream with the students - they surprise me with the things that they want from the ministry. Really really, we have some great student leaders for this school year. Here they are...although not all together - and some faces missing.

Thank Genesis team

I really look forward to God's work through you all.

Let's GO!!!!!

Friday things

Every Friday I come to church to get some work done for the weekend. It's nice because I usually set aside the weekends to focus on ministry work. Usually the going about of FNF (Friday Night Fellowship), Saturday events, and of course our Holy Sabbath - which should be an otherwise restful day, but for me...it is not. By the time Sundays come around, I'm drained from the mental work of doing my sermon, the emotional strain of keeping up with students that range from age 12-18, and of course as I ageeeeeee, the physical demands - which actually I wish were more demanding. The kids are so good at sports that I can barely keep up. ugh. age.

These are some of my students:

These pictures are from our summer HOPE CAMP which is held annually. The idea is that it is a retreat, but more with the camp feel. It's a really great time for fellowship outside the church things. And it's an awesome avenue for kids who really aren't into church to get involved. I really have to give props to the 26 staff that we had for this year. They really put everything together as Pastor Clay and I ran around this summer doing missions and the what nots. People ask me how my summer was, and honestly I don't remember! It was such a big blur...and a blessed blur if I might add. This ministry has been such a blessing for me and I am so thankful for all the pains that it comes with. I've been reading this book On-Purpose Leadership, Dale Galloway: and I learned something profound from it - something that was always in my face but took me so long to learn. "History records the story of Thomas Edison's efforts to develop the light bulb. His first 6,000 experiments were unsuccessful. One day when someone asked him if he was discouraged, he said 'No, I am now well-informed on 6,000 ways you cannot do it" (71). And on the same note, the author asks, "Wouldn't you rather attempt something great for God and fail, than do nothing and succeed? (102)?

Yes...I would like to do something great for God and fail. Lead the way.

Why a blog?

Why a blog. In all honesty, I had to open this blog as a project. Annoying? yes. Good for me? Probably. It's very reminiscent of my xanga days. Haha...yeah, remember that? Xanga? My sister still uses xanga. lovely.

Anyway, I guess I'd like to have a purpose to this blog and just share a couple things about the direction of this page. And that would simply be: "Things I like and think!"

With that settled, one of the things I wanted to focus on and share is my "home-run." My proff asked me at the beginning of the semester to share what my "home-run" for this class would be. Meaning, what needs to happen in this class and in me that wouldn't make it an epic fail. My home-run? To be more insightful and observant of the things around me and simply share on this blog those awesome insights that will hopefully produce itself in my head...or heart.

So my first insight for the day? It's always best to be in community, no matter how busy you are. I can either be busy by myself, or busy with other people. Either way, circumstances won't change. I think I'm really beginning to understand this. Thanks friends.

My first.

Tonight was the first time experiencing Neptune Night; and it was great. Not so much because of all the lobster, but I really enjoyed it because of the fellowship. I saw old youth group students, old friends, and new friends. And it made me miss my college days. I never had the real college experience. I lived off campus, didn't commit to a church or any fellowship, and it was just hard for me to get the dorm life/community life. On top of that, I was so driven to graduate early that I just kept diligent in getting done - summer classes, winter classes. Non-stop. I look back and I wish that I could have done it all over again, but I wonder where I would have ended up. Weird. Would I have gone to Australia? Would I have gone to Seminary? Would I have been a youth pastor.

I regret not having that. But I don't regret where God has led me since then. I'm having a blast, and I'm learning that I still have now to surround myself with a fellowship of people that can really encourage me and remind of the goodness of God. He is good. Thanks for being patient with me - hopefully this semester, I'll be more diligent in keeping a close community rather than keeping a close stack of books around me. I love the people that God has placed in my path - and I want to cherish them. Lord help me!