URC Weekly 11/6/2011: Movado
Hi everyone!
A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine from New York visited. I, along with Sam, treated him to lunch to this awesome Korean teppanyaki (stir-fry meat and seafood) place called “Ddeu-Rak” on Western and 1st in Koreatown. We had this awesome dish that can be translated as “Stir-fried Octopus-Bacon Sidekick.” While I was marveling shamelessly at the awesome (and I mean awesome, for the fourth time) mountain of octopus-pork belly-veggies-spice mixture, my friend looked at my watch and asked, “Hey, is that a Movado?”
Yes, my brothers and sisters. I do wear a Movado watch. At the retail price of $750, it is by far the most expensive piece of anything that I have ever possessed. My car doesn’t count because it’s not under my name, and my laptop doesn’t count because it’s church property, not mine. Now, before you throw stones at me, condemning me as the most hedonistic pastor you know, I have to tell you three things. One, the watch was given to me as a wedding gift by Hannah’s family. Two, we bought the watch at a discounted price of $399. And three, before buying this watch, I had never heard of “Movado.” In fact, I just assumed that the watch must be pretty good because I saw a poster of Derek Jeter (a very famous professional baseball player) wearing it at the store.
Furthermore, I plan to wear this watch until death, so that I can milk it for all it’s worth. But one thing that I have learned from my friend asking in disbelief that a pastor like myself would possess such an expensive piece of accessory is that the brands with which we associate ourselves do matter. And they matter significantly, for we like to make purchases that represent us somehow, whetehr or not our means allow it.
For instance, the type of car you drive can tell al lot about you. Do you drive a BMW? You are likely a young (I mean under 40 here) professional/business owner who is into the latest trend of fashion or strong in your own style. You also probably enjoy a certain amount of night life, and modern design. Now you can bet that someone who drives a Mercedes is pretty much the same person, except for the young part. My apologies to you if you are under 40 and drive a Benz. The same reason can apply in explaining why most of young Asians drive Hondas and Toyotas compared to Chevys and Fords, which represent more of traditionally white-American values.
We talked this past Sunday about how God chose to represent himself as a lamb – not something strong and fierce like a tiger, an eagle, a lion, but a lamb. This tells us much about the character of God: humble, gentle, relational, vulnerable, etc. People of God at Union Church, what products do you buy to represent you? What do you imagine yourself as now and to be in the future? What is the image of the ultimate success look like in your view? Is it a Movado-wearing, BMW-driving tiger? Or is it a harmless and even foolish-looking lamb?
God’s choice is clear. In fact, I believe that being a lamb is not God’s choice, but rather God’s nature. God did not choose to be humble. God is humble. God did not have to think long and hard about dying on the cross for all humanity because God’s instinct did not allow him to do anything else but to die on the cross.
This overpowering humility is what we as Christians are called to model after. We are the ones asked to die for one another. We are the ones asked to die for the world, even those who hate us. We are the ones that God chose to die to ourselves, so that Christ may live in us. Friends, we are on this journey together. Let us build each other up in prayer and tangible action, as we strive to become a lamb of God.
• Congratulations to Paul & Sooyeon! We are excited for their new life together!
• Hyonroh is getting married to Hannah and everyone is welcome! This Saturday 11/12 at 3pm. New Life Community Church. 18800 Norwalk Blvd. Artesia, 90701.
• Guest Speaker: Pastor Chae No from OKEC, 11/13 (Sun)
• Lee Family Visiting: Sang, Grace, and Lauren are coming! 11/11 (Fri) – 11/13 (Sun)
• MPR is to be continued on 11/20 (Sun). Please keep praying this month.
• Thanksgiving Dinner: With OKEC this year, at our church, 11/27 (Sun) @ 530pm.
• Winter Retreat: 12/18 (Sun) – 12/20 (Tue), details are coming soon!
