March 16, 2024

“And said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

When I speak with my parents on the phone, I don’t spend too much time talking with them. The conversation is brief and casual, and then they want to speak with my children. They spend a lot more time with the kids than spending time with me. I have no problem with that and I can see why.

When the girls were babies, It was interesting to see the girls interact with Hyemi at home. Sebin was 3 years old and she was old enough to know stuff and she didn’t always need mommy. So when Sebin is playing in the living room and Hyemi is passing by, Sebin wouldn’t look at Hyemi. Sebin just pays attention to what she would be doing. The only time Sebin looked at Mommy was when she needed something or when Hyemi was offering food.

Sejin is the youngest in the home. At that time she was only 8 months old. She is different. Mommy is all the world to her. By that time she was big enough to hold onto something higher and stand up. She would be busy playing but when mommy shows up, her face enlightens and her eyes follow wherever mommy is. When Hyemi walks to the left, Sejin’s eyes follow. When Hyemi walks to the right, Sejin’s eyes will follow. When Hyemi disappears to the kitchen, she starts crying. How sweet is that?

I can see why Jesus says we should be like children. As you get older, your attention to your parents seems to get less and less. Like Sejin looking for mommy all the time, we need to be like her, looking for Jesus all the time.

#pastorsblog #waukeshachurch

March 9, 2024

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26-27.

When I leave the house, I always ensure these three items are on me: wallet, phone, keys. Every time I move around, I tap myself three times to make sure that these three items are on me.

One morning, I came to church to pray and to read. While I was reading, I needed to get something from the backpack. Then I realized something else was missing. My instinct said that this item was back at home. I drove to church, so that means I had my keys on me. I can see the phone on the desk. So it was my wallet that I left at home.

I was super conscious on my way back home because I didn’t have my driver’s license on me. Since it was early morning, hardly any cars were on the road. But I didn’t speed, I drove safely on the road, and I made sure double, and triple times not to break the law. I didn’t want to get pulled over for any reason. Even though I can claim that I was faithful to the traffic law, I felt guilty. Because I didn’t have my driver’s license with me. I was just more conscious of that fact.

Romans 3:23 tells us that we are all sinners. Therefore, no matter how much I try to obey the law, we are still sinners. The only way to be saved as you know is only through Jesus Christ. When we do so, God will give us a new heart and a new spirit. We’ll feel secure and safe only when we have Jesus Christ within our hearts. If Jesus is not present in our hearts, no matter what we do, we will be insecure.

#pastorsblog #waukeshachurch

March 2, 2024

“For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you too Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” Matthew 25:35, 36.

Some years ago, one afternoon, I was parked outside this mart when suddenly this lady walked up to my car. She looked like she was seeking help. I rolled my window down and asked, “How can I help you?” She said, “Do you have any change? We ran out of gas and we need gas money.”

I didn’t ask more, I didn’t judge. I said, “If you go down half a mile there is a gas station. Come, meet me there and I’ll fill up gas for you.” I don’t know why I said that. I can be usually skeptical when it comes to things like this, doubting and questioning the person’s story. But for some reason, I was compelled to help this couple. Later I asked why she came to me. She said she asked for help from all the people she could find in the parking lot but everyone else had declined.

This wasn’t the first time. A few weeks before that, after church, a stranger texted me and told me he needed gas money. I called up and told him to meet me at a gas station. He had found my number by searching for churches online. I have a feeling I wasn’t the only pastor he had contacted.

I am not writing these stories to brag about what I did. It reminded me of Matthew 25 where the Son of Man separates the sheep from the goats. What was the measurement of separating? Was it based on how many verses you can memorize? Was it based on how many Bible doctrines you can teach? Was it based on how faithful you were in offerings? Was it based on how faithful you kept the Sabbath?

No. Surprisingly, it was defined by how much we helped other people. We need to know the Bible, but we need to practice what the Bible teaches us. We need to follow the examples of Jesus.

#pastorsblog #waukeshachurch