Transformers!

Today, my family went to a local movie theater to watch the movie "Transformers." I think it is the best movie of this year.

The World is in danger..

really?

Lock-In

I just finished 2009 Lock-in yesterday. Well, I guess it was fun. If you want to see some pictures, please visit my flickr. Click the link on the right side of my blog...

Long...

It has been a few months after my last post. I have been so busy.. Yes, that is my excuse. I'll try to visit at least one time a week!

No image of God

I was raised by a single mother. As a boy, I was alway wondering about my father. So once a while I asked my mother about my father. Then she told me about him. 

“James, he was a very handsome man like you.”

“James, he was a very kind man.”

“James, he was a  famous musician.”

“James, he wears a pair of glasses.” 

“James, he is exactly like you.” 

You know what? 

But people told me, “Hey, James you look like your mom.” 

Then when I was in college, one day I found a picture from my mother’s purse. That’s was my father’s picture that I never seen before. Unfortunately, he was not a celebrity. He was not Beethoven. He was none of my imagination.

Sometimes, we think about our God in a way that we have experienced. If you have a loving father, then you can easily imagine the God of love. If your father was scary, you probably imagine that God is also scary. But the second command teaches us not to make ‘self willed image’ of God like the Israelites. On top of that, we don’t need the image of God because we have the Bible in our hands. It’s better for us to faithfully read the word of God than we wrongfully create the images of God. I am sure that wen we go to heaven we all will be surprised when we see the Lord Jesus Christ because he will be none of our imaginations that we see from the pictures. 

In Exodus 32, the reason the Israelites made the calf and worshipped it was that they felt that God was unreachable. Since Moses was gone for 40 days and nights, they strongly felt that God was also gone with Moses. Probably there were afraid of loosing their God. Probably their hearts were completely broken. By making an image of God in a golden calf, they wanted to make sure that God’s covenant was still with them.

We cannot see God. We cannot touch Him. We cannot understand Him. We cannot control the power of God. Well, however, all these things do not mean that God is unreachable. We should understand that we are not the ones who keep the covenant. But God is the one who keeps the covenant. God’s covenant has already been fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And Jesus says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt. 28:20)

Trinity Young People

Do Hard Things

Alex and Brett, 19-year-old twin brothers from Oregon, wrote a book "Do Hard Thnings." And this book is the #1-selling Christian book for young adults. They also created a youth Websites, www.therebelution.com. 

They summarized their book like this, "it's really summed up in the subtitle:it's a teenage rebellion against low expectations. We live in a culture that expects very little from young people. It expects them to be immature and irresponsible and complacent and rebellious. And it doesn't expect them to be able to meaningfully contribute to society... or to accomplish things of significance ... or to care about things that really matter. The message of Do Hard THings to young people is that it doesn't have to be this way. They have so much more ability to do hard things for the glory of God than what people around them are telling them." (From Group magazine, Jan.Feb 2009 Edition)

Grace oh! Grace

Her name is Grace, in Greek "Charis-χάρις". I like the word Grace because it reminds me of God's grace, His abundant grace that I never deserve to receive. When Grace was born in 2000, we actually thought about two different names for our daughter. One was "Grace" and the other one was "Gloria." Well, Jenny and I decided to name our new born baby as 'Grace' because it is our favorite word from the Bible.

Grace always bring us joy and happiness. She makes me laugh. She likes to sing, dance and keep on track daddy's schedule. As her father, it's my pure joy to watch her doing something. I still remember when she was three years old. At that time, Grace really wanted to go to school like her brother John. So she asked her mother to send her to school. Then Jenny told her, "If you want to go to school, you have to do this...." And Jenny gave her a preschooler workbook which includes counting numbers, matching numbers and coloring. Jenny thought that Grace would take a couple of days or months to finish the book. Yet, amazingly, Grace took only a day to finish the workbook. Can you believe that? That's my daughter Yo!

Jenny and I used to talk about Grace. We both agree that we don't have to worry about Grace because she takes care of her life. There is a song title, 'Grace' written by Michael W. Smith. Whenever I listen to the song, I pray for my daughter Grace and give thanks to the Lord because of His grace. Grace Oh Grace~~~

A blog family

Here, you see a picture of my son, John Kim. He made his blog a couple of months ago, then he didn't change anything until today. Then all of sudden, he sees my blog today. Guess what? He sits right next to me with my old HP laptop on his lap. Then he tries to figure out how to change things on his blog. Oh~ finally, John and I became a blog family. Let me tell you more about my son.

John is a smart boy (I know all the parents would say, 'my boy/girl is smart!). He began to read when he was 18 months. If you are father or mother, you can understand what I'm trying to say. I mean it would be impossible for a baby to read, but John did. However, since John was our first boy, we thought that John's reading ability was a kind of normal. So, we didn't do anything, but just enjoyed watching him read everything. Yes, some people praised John's incredible ability. Then I used to reply like this, "John gets his smartness from me!"

John had been doing so good until we moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 2006. We came to Anchorage for my one yearlong internship at Trinity CRC. He did well in the year of 2006. He received the president award (outstanding academic excellence). Then all of sudden, his grade began to gradually go down the hill like a snow ball rolling down.... Even some of teachers complained about John's behaviors in the classroom. Well, I tried to defend John whenever teachers complained about his classroom behaviors. I hope they understood me... 

Well, John still gets good grades (90% A and 10% B), but he doesn't get the best grade that we always want him to get. He doesn't do his best. That's what I see from him. Maybe we expect too much for him. Now John is finishing up his last year of elementary education. Then he will be a middle school student in September 2009. Then, what shall we do? How can I encourage him to study hard? Parenting is not easy. Yes it is a joyful experience. Yet, it is hard. Please God help me.

My MacBook Story

When I was in college, I had an Apple desktop computer. That was about 18 years ago, whew~. I still remember that an Apple commuter was very expensive at that time. Then, how did I get one? Was I rich? Well, I don't know...maybe... My mother bought an Apple desktop computer to encourage me.....to be a good college student. So I kept my apple computer until I graduated from my college.

After graduating college, my old Apple computer became dumb. So I saved money and bought a beautiful Apple laptop computer. Well, the screen wasn't color. The screen color was black and white and something between. But the computer worked really fine. So I used my laptop until I came to the U.S. in 1997. 

Unfortunately, however, one day a burglar broke into my house in Detroit, Michigan and that person stole my laptop. Well, actually that person (probably two or three people) stole almost everything from my house. Because I was a student, I needed a computer at that time. Well, I wanted to buy another apple laptop or desktop computer. But I couldn't because it was so expensive. So I had to give up my dream and got a PC.

Then... 12 years later in 2009, I finally met a chance to buy an Apple computer again. The story begins with like this. Jenny and I talked about buying a new computer for our son, John. So, I was trying to research to buy a desktop computer for John. 

However, all of sudden, something happened to my old laptop computer (2 years old). I found out that It acted really strange every day. And it worked extremely slow. Then I began to win Jenny's heart. "Hey, I think I need a new computer...my old one became a monster.." Well, as I expected, Jenny said, "NO." However, I strongly felt that it would be the last chance for me to buy an Apple computer. So, I began to ask her to buy an Apple computer almost everyday. Well, unfortunately, she never changed her heart.

Then one day, she came up with a list of "What I have to do." And she said, "if you really want to buy an Apple computer, sign this contract paper." Wow, isn't she amazing? She changed her heart! Did I sign the paper? Why not! I sign up with no hesitation. Then I finally got my Apple MacBook. Oh~ it's so good and so fast. I recommend you to buy one.

Huh~ How about my son's computer? Well, I am trying to fix my old one, and I will give it to him. Hum...I think I am a selfish father, right? Hey, John, I'm sorry. But I promise you. I will give you my Apple MacBook four years later. Maybe....next year, if I could buy a MacPro...I'm greedy....

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

Pre Teen Pizza Party

Learn to run a junior high group and you can rule the world.- Bill Wennerholm. 

If children are not reached with the gospel by age 13, the chances of their accepting the gospel after that point are greatly reduced.- George Barma-

I believe that it is important for us to have a strong junior high youth ministry. If we want to change the world, we should bring more junior high kids to our church!  Well, I like high school kids, but they are too old~(sorry, it's true). It's hard for us to evangelize high school kids so many reasons. But, it is a different story for junior high kids.

So I'm trying to have a special party for all 6th graders this month. We will have a pizza party and we all go to a local roller skate rink. Why do I choose to go to a roller skate rink? One simple answer, because they like that place. Many of 6th, 7th and 8th graders love to hang out at the roller skating place. Yes, I love to go, too. I am still able to do some tricks! I am trying to have a party once a month until every kid feels free to come to my church. 

I made a poster. Well, it was easy. If you have a Mac, just use one of their templates. If you don't have one, save money and buy one~

Nike and Nice

Genuine Nike

When I was in middle school, every body wanted to have a pair of Nike shoes. I don’t know why, but if we saw our friends were wearing those Nike shoes, we just praised them. “Oh, you look so gorgeous. You walk like an angel today. Wow, it’s beautiful! Can I touch your shoes?” Compared to the 21^st century young people, it was like having a brand new I-pod or multi functional cell phone. Maybe for us grown-ups, it was like having a brand new car or jewelry or clothing. Anyway, people became cool and gorgeous, if they wore a pair of Nike shoes when I was young boy.

However, unfortunately, not every kid was able to have Nike shoes because those shoes were incredibly expensive. The regular price of Nike shoes was around $ 15.00 U.S dollars at that time. Well, it was twenty five years ago. They could now be more than $ 150.00 dollars. Anyway, because they were so expensive, we were not able to have them at all. Yet, all of sudden many of the kids in the school began to wear those expensive shoes. I was not an exception. I wanted to be gorgeous and cool, so I also wore those shoes like other kids.

Was I rich? That’s why I got the Nike shoes? No. not at all! Unfortunately, my mother didn’t want to use her money to buy those expensive shoes at that time. Then how did I get my lovely Nike shoes? Here is the story. I and my friends got the fake Nike shoes from a local shoe store. Even the name of our shoes was not Nike at all, but it was “NICE.” Smart, isn’t it? Only one letter was different, but almost everything was the same as the genuine Nike shoes. It was so popular so everybody wore those NICE shoes at that time. 

However, although we loved out ‘NICE’ shoes, there was one truth that we could not deny it. “Nike shoes always won.” Although we wore those fake Nike shoes, we were not proud of ourselves if we saw a person who wore the genuine Nike shoes. We pretended to be cool (what’s up! Yo man!), yet we were not cool anymore if we saw the genuine Nike shoes around us. 

I guess the 21st century Christians created many false gods everyday. A theologian says, “People nowadays can make idols out of almost anything, the desire for power, reason, nature, tradition, hobby, sports, and money.” Incredible, right? I think he is right. We can make idols from almost anything. What is my idol.....I feel sorry to God.

Dealing with temptation/ Pastor Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley is the senior pastor of North Point Community Church. I like to listen to his sermon almost every week. I think he is one of the best! Enjoy his sermon.

Dealing with temptation Part One


Dealing with temptation Part Two


Dealing with temptation Part Three

Holy Hip Hop?

In this interview, Thabiti Anyabwile reflects on what he calls "holy hip hop" and its connection to the resurgence of Reformed Theology in African-American and urban churches.

The Batman!

Check this out! Click HERE, then you will see the Batman.

Peter Lugo took this video when we went to Food Bank of Alaska in 2007. This is an old video clip. 

summer camp 2008

summer camp 2008
Originally uploaded by Trinity CRC

This picture was taken last year when we opened our house for a five-day homestyle VBS. Around 20 children came to the camp each day. If you want to see more pictures about the Bible Club Kids (both Airport Heights Elementary and Russian Jack Elementary), click Trinity CRC. 

Are we crazy?

The video clip shows how my young people play, not always but usually they play like that. Many people say that my young people are so tough and crazy. Well, I think so, too! They are so rough, tough and crazy. The followings are what they do and don't. 

Usually, they don't understand what is going on Sunday worship service. I would say, they don't care. They are not able to sit quietly more than 2 minutes. So they continually talk, move, giggle, make noises, and even snoring. For them, the church is a place of persecution (only Sundays). I usually persecute them with the following words, "Beeeeee quiet!" 

They are all curious monkeys. Everything is I-Touch, I-Destroy stuff for them. They touch the bread on the communion table and usually brake or crush it. Even they lick the windows of the church van. Even they are able to write their names on the window with their tongues. Amazing, right?

 Thy don't talk, but always yell or scream. There is no regular CONVERSATION, but only YELL-versation. If you try to talk to them, they would never understand you. They only listen to you, when you do "YELL-versation."

 

They don't walk, but always run or jump (see Peter the Jump video clip). They never get tired. They are all self-recharged batteries. Well, I should call the battery company (Duracell or Engergizer) if they are looking for the new ad for their batteries. "Never Die, Last Long battery."

They are always hungry and thirsty. They drink everything: energy drink, coke, sprite, mountain dew and even caparisun. Oh! They eat almost anything. If there is nothing to eat, they eat the toilet paper! Thank God! because they don't eat me yet. 

It seems to me that they don't think, but just act. No brain? I don't think so. They are usually very smart people. Yet, their brains don't function like we normal people do. They usually shut their brains down when they are alone. Yet, they become the smartest monsters when they get together every Friday night. They easily trick you and make fun of you. Oh! They don't do to me because they think that I am one of them.

Yet, they know that God loves them. They know that I love them, too. That's why they are coming to the church. If they don't feel loved, they don't come. Sometimes, I feel so tired because of them. Yet, I can't give them up because I believe what the Apostle Paul says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17) 

Oh one more, they usually smell so bad. Why? because they don't take a shower for a long time. If they try to hide somewhere, I can easily track them down because of their bad body smell. I think I became a dog. 

Peter The Jumper!

I took this video clip when we had lock-in. They jumper's name is Peter Lugo. He is the president of the Trinity Youth Body.