URC Weekly 4/25/10: The 2nd Case for a Creator
Hi Family,
As many of you know, my grandfather went to meet His Jesus last Wednesday. This past Monday and Tuesday were his funeral and burial, respectively, and I thank you with all my heart for your love and support. I got so many words of encouragement, in person or on email, from The Family; Sarah and David’s family took our boys for a sleepover, so we could fully be present during the services; Grace and I felt your prayers throughout the past week lifting us up and giving us peace. The funeral and burial were honoring of my grandfather’s life and glorifying to our God: He was an alcoholic until age 55, when he gave His life to Jesus. For the next 38 years, he never touched a drink again, became a man of devout prayer, and died as an elder of his church. I’ll never forget how much he loved our three kids, and the last thing he said to Grace and me in the hospital revealed his humble heart, as he said, “thank you, thank you.”
Because my grandfather lived a long life that was meaningful with Jesus, I had more peace than I’ve ever had at a funeral. There was sorrow that we won’t see him again on earth, but more than that, Paul’s words echoed, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” I kept thinking “to die is gain, to die is gain…” that in death, he found a greater joy than living in Christ, the joy of actually being with Christ. I’m even more convicted that WE HAVE TO share the Good News that can change everything for the nonbelievers we know and love.
1) PRAY FOR AUSTIN: He’s in Georgia, crawling through mud, climbing high walls, taking apart/rebuilding his gun, and waking up at 5 AM to a man who is now his Mommy and Daddy. He’s also starting a new stage in his life, so let’s lift up his two requests: 1) Spiritual growth; 2) Health and endurance. I advised him to find a chaplain, church, and Christian friends right away, and everything else should take care of itself. I just talked to his mom tonight, and she said he arrived there safely and is off to a good start. He won’t have access to a phone for weeks, so remember our younger brother in your prayers…
2) THANK YOU, SISTERS!!! White Day was awesome. Prime rib, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, grilled mushrooms, side salad: Check. Array of games that had us snorting/shooting cotton balls out of our nostrils, with two manly DVD prizes: Check. Korean Idol karaoke: Check. Lakers’ victory: Fail. That’s a pretty great night, and since the Lakers won game 5, all is good.
SEE PICTURES ON OUR “PHOTOS” PAGE.
3) COMMUNITY GROUP: THIS FRIDAY @ 7 PM @ MIKE/JANE’S. Last time, we didn’t have everybody, so we postponed our Bible study to this coming Friday. Is there a God? How do you know? We’ll study the Christian defense against atheism, as we watch a DVD from Lee Strobel’s “The Case for a Creator.” Of course, the spiritual food will be accompanied by our potluck food…
4) TED KANG/SOO CHUNG WEDDING: THIS SATURDAY. Ted is a faithful Youth Group teacher from the KM, and he’s goin’ to the chapel and he’s gonna get maaaaried. Sorry for that girly moment. Congratulate and pray for them.
5) COORDINATORS’ MEETING: THIS SUNDAY @ 1 PM. Please come prayerfully and prepared to lead an agenda on your area of ministry. Let’s be visionary and progressive, rather than discharging a responsibility, as we’re doing work of eternal value.
6) MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH: A WEEK FROM SUNDAY. URC is cooking the Mother’s Day lunch once again! A year ago, we failed with bad rice, but then we recovered with flying colors with our sullungtang soup. I don’t remember so many smiles and “thank you’s” as we had on that day. Let’s make our moms happy…
7) SCRIPTURE READING/OFFERING: Won Lee
8 ) DEVOTIONS: ISAIAH 10-15, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat…They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (11:6, 9).
Let’s share our faith and bring many into that beautiful prophecy of heaven…
