My Spirit Filled Faith

Christ is risen, he is risen indeed!

Greetings to you all in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ,

A few days ago, I had a special plan with my family for attending an out of town event, and I heard about Winter Weather Warning for that particular day. It said that we might have several inches of snow all through the afternoon. However, it did not bother me much because we are already in the springtime waiting for the summer! Winter has lost its power and the spring has won the victory! 

"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" by Charles Wesley

“Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!”

(written by C. Wesley, UMH 302, v.3)

Now it is truly the season of celebrating our Risen Lord. Around us, I can still hear Wesley’s resurrection hymn, “Christ the Lord is risen today”, and I cannot resist joining the chorus whenever it is heard. What a joy! What a power! And what a victory! Who is able to take these “Alleluias” from us now? I dare say “No one!”.

But two thousand years ago, in the same place, where he had called his disciples before he turned water into wine in the wedding at Cana (John 1:43), he visited and called them again after he was resurrected from the dead. Now, this risen Lord, who is visiting each one of our lives through this season, is inviting us to join the new journey with him and with his disciples in a new dimension with the same words.

“Follow Me.” (John 21:19, NRSV)

This means, the Christ’s resurrection was not the ending but the new beginning! I wondered, “how am I following him as my new beginning?”. Without hesitation, I can say, “It is with our unshakable spirit filled faith”. Why? Because those disciples, who got called by Jesus a second time, began their new journey with that faith, even after Jesus ascended into heaven. Which means they did that without Jesus because the Holy Spirit enabled them to heal, teach, and live like Christ Jesus. 

In other words, Jesus was always there as they kept that unshakable faith, and it made them grow in Christ filled with the Holy Spirit without fears or doubts anymore, but with joy even boldly confronting all the dangers of their life. But I wonder again, “Can I do the same?” and “How do I have that?” 

According to the stories of the disciples, they have witnessed the power that they held, the spirit filled faith. And it has continued until now two thousand years later on the other side of the world, in Wisconsin. So we follow Jesus like them.

Now brothers and sisters in Christ, here are what they hold in their hearts, the spirit filled faith, unshakable, as they followed him in a new dimension. 

Can we hold this spirit filled faith, unshakable, in us together now? If so, let us begin our new journey with Christ holding this together. We will truly find a joy eternal!

Join me..

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul

2nd Symphony "Auferstehung" , Finale by G. Mahler 

Die Auferstehung

(5th movement)

Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you My dust,
After a brief rest!
Immortal life! Immortal life
Will He who called you, give you.

To bloom again were you sown!
The Lord of the harvest goes
And gathers in, like sheaves,
Us together, who died.

by Freidrich Klopstock

O believe, my heart, O believe:
Nothing to you is lost!
Yours is, yes yours, is what you desired
Yours, what you have loved
What you have fought for!

O believe,
You were not born for nothing!
Have not for nothing, lived, suffered!

What was created
Must perish,
What perished, rise again!
Cease from trembling!
Prepare yourself to live!

O Pain, You piercer of all things,
From you, I have been wrested!
O Death, You conqueror of all things,
Now, are you conquered!

With wings which I have won for myself,
In love's fierce striving,
I shall soar upwards
To the light which no eye has penetrated!

Die shall I in order to live.
Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you, my heart, in an instant!
That for which you suffered,
To God shall it carry you!

by Gustav Mahler

Leap!

“Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.” 

(Hebrews 11:1, ESV)

Dance Battle from "Leap"

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Now we have a whole different color of the season, winter into spring, not fancy yet though. Like the world prepares the new season of life, we are also preparing to celebrate the Christ’s resurrection through this season of Lent. I mean, we are preparing our new life in the power of the resurrection of Christ Jesus! 

Are we ready for that?

Anyway, it is now much easier for us to drive because we don’t have to worry about the snowy icy road for a while. So I can enjoyably look around the field while I am driving. I can see that the seasonal birds are coming back and singing in our deck and playing in the lake - still it is partly icy though. The shy greens are starting to show their faces in our front and back yard coming out from the ground. Of course, deer and turkeys near and far, I can see. 

But in a moment, I was kind of surprised by the fact that I was able to see those living things in a distance while I was driving because it was not possible for me to see that when I moved to Wisconsin about twenty years ago. So when someone pointed the deer in a far distance in the field, I was amazed of their ability. So I thought, they had a hunter’s eye because I did not see any. 

So what did I do? I sang in prayer, “O Lord, open my eyes that I may see!”. In other words, “Lord, give me that hunter’s eye because I am going to live in Wisconsin and I want to see those while I am driving”.

Now, somewhat I have that hunter’s eye. I wonder “How?”. 

I am guessing that it is not because I become a hunter but because I become a Wisconsinite. I am getting to realize more what is happening around me, many living things moving, crawling and growing in the fields - as you all know I grew in a big city covered by the cement and asphalt. So I dare to say I have an eye of a Wisconsinite now. My prayers were answered! How great our God is!

How about our spiritual life now moving from the season of Lent to the season of Christ’s resurrection? Do we see something amazing things that God has prepared for us, something unseen? But not sure? So I sing again in prayer, “Open my eyes that I may see, O Lord!”

“Open my eyes to see the wonderful truth in your instructions!” (Psalm 119:18, NLT)

As I read Psalm one day, I realize that I was not the only one who sang that song, “Open my eyes that I may see!”. Israel people, several thousand years ago, sang that song because they wanted to see something more, something beyond where they were. It was  the wonderful truths! 

Israel people are well known people of following the law, the words of God, because they delight in the law of the Lord meditating on it day and night. Why? Because they wanted to see something more, something hidden from the law. It was the wonderful truths!

Now people were able to see that through the eyes of Jesus Christ, so called faith. How come? 

Two thousand years ago, Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Hebrews who were struggling with having a new eye so called faith. Those Hebrews wanted to see something more from God’s instruction, the Law of Moses. And they began to ponder about those followers of Jesus Christ who had that new eye because even when they were in prison, they were filled with joy and thanksgiving. Even when they were persecuted because of their faith, they prayed for those who persecuted them. Why? Because they were able to see something more, the wonderful truths, whatever situation brought them. No wonder why those Hebrews wanted to have that long time even before that in Psalm. And it was their prayers.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, do we see something that Apostles could see when they were in prison? Do we see something that those Hebrew followers of Jesus could see when they were persecuted by Romans, the wonderful truths? Or do we want to have their eyes to see that truths that save lives, bring healing, bring restoration and bring victory? Of course we do. 

So now join me, our new journey with faith in Christ who suffered and died but resurrected. We will have that new eye!  

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return..

"A joyful heart is good medicine! But a crushed spirit dries up the bones” 

(Proverbs 17:22, ESV)

    Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

    As we enter into the new month, March, how's your heart working now? I just assumed that we could begin to talk about spring since we had a Groundhog Day in Feb already. However, from the outside, I see snow is still falling… snow on snow on snow. And my neighbor’s two big dogs in a distance are jumping back and forth with joyful hearts tasting the white stuff from above in a wide open field.

I know they don’t have to shovel the snow to clear their side walk. They don’t have to drive with the semi trucks splashing salty ice water over us and they don’t have to walk on the icy hills worrying about falling. It is no wonder why they can keep joyful hearts with snow. What a good life and what a good medicine!

As you all know... that white stuff, the snow flakes, don’t have any taste because they are just a combination of two hydrogen atoms with one oxygen atom. In other words, it is a kind of water! With my playful heart, I try to count them like a child.. and after a few seconds, I realize that it is not possible because they are infinite to me. 

However, can you believe all those infinite numbers of snowflakes are different to each other in size and shape? It is due to the differences in surrounding temperature and saturation as they are formed in the sky. Amazingly, God created them all one by one for certain days like today. Believe it or not, so also humans in this world! Even God can count all the numbers of hairs in our heads. It sounds like infinite numbers though...

“...the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; 

you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:7, NLT)

Some years ago, an apostle named Paul, one of those people in God’s creation, shared his heart with us. However, it is rather strange at first because he sounded like he had a crushed spirit that dried up his bones.      

"Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is 

dominated by sin and death? (Romans 7:24, NLT)

I wonder what kind of snowflake he was. I am pretty sure he was formed like that by the surrounding environment, some hardships in his life caused by the human reality of sin and death. He is a truly unique snowflake, one and only in human history like all of us here on earth in the 21st century. However, he shared one element that all of us should realize. 

It is Jesus Christ, the image of God in him! So his ending was totally different as he found the answer through that image! So he has a new heart even under the same reality of sin and death. This is his song of a joyful heart after he found it.

“Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:25a, NLT)

Worthy Is the Lamb by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are now entering into the season of Lent as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is God’s searching journey through us as we spend our time for fasting and penance, instead of me searching, because as we let God search us through this season, God will renew our heart to celebrate the new life, full of joy and thanksgiving! Are we now ready to let God search us as we enter into the season of Lent together and find the answer like Paul did? Yes, we are! Join me..

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul

Praise to Our God

Today, I vision visions...

 Gadol Adonai  from Praise to Our God Concert

Great is the Lord

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!

In the city of our God, in His holy mountain,

 I will come to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy.

I will bring the fruit of my lips as an offering before You.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!

In the city of our God, in His holy mountain,

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men

 they shall be His people

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

There shall be no more death, pain, nor crying.

Hallelujah for the Lord our God reigns!

Hallelujah for the God Almighty reigns!

Let us rejoice and be glad and honor Him!

Hallelujah for the Lord our God reigns!

Hallelujah for the God Almighty reigns!

transcribed by Isa Camson of NIHOP

†

Immanoel  from the worship at Cave Church, Egypt

Immanuel

Your people declare their faith, holding onto your promises.

 You are our shepherd and precious, covering us in your grace.

Immanueul, Immanuel, God with us!

Whenever war toughens on us, Your Spirit’s manifestation is in us.

 You are ours, and who could satisfy us But You, our Savior?

Immanueul, Immanuel, God with us!

You teach us your word, a Lamp to our feet.

Your Spirit in us comforts us, and enlightens our eyes.

Immanueul, Immanuel, God with us!

†

Dona Nobis Pacem by St. Olaf Motet Choir with Congregation



Grant Us Peace.... 

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

"Someday, we all will be able to see the love of Christ Jesus fully from each other's lives..."

I dream dreams today as I listen this divine music leaking from heaven above...

Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life....

by J S Bach

Well for me that I have Jesus,

O how tightly I hold him

that he might refresh my heart,

when I'm sick and sad.

Jesus I have, who loves me

and gives himself to me,

ah, therefore I will not leave Jesus,

Even if I feel my heart is breaking.

Jesus remains my joy,

my heart's comfort and essence,

Jesus fends off all suffering,

He is my life's strength,

my eye's desire and sun,

my soul's treasure and pleasure;

Therefore I will not leave Jesus

out of heart and face.

“Jesu, Meiner Seele Wonne” written by Martin Janus, 1661

Be Still, and Know that I am God!

Hide me now under your wings..

Still by Gospelhaus Choir

Come, behold the works of the Lord; 

see what desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;

he burns the shields with fire.

"Be Still, and know that I am God!

I am exalted among the nations,

I am exalted in the earth."

the Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Psalm.46.8-11, nrsv

†

Still by Jennifer Jeon

The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Come and see what the Lord has done, 

See what amazing things he has done on earth.

He stops wars all over the world;

he breaks bows, destroys spears,

and sets shields on fire.

"Stop fighting," 

he says, 

"and know that I am God, 

supreme among the nations, 

supreme over the world."

The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Psalm 46:8-11, tev

†

Hide Me Now Under Your Wings & Where It Moves by Whanil High School Choir

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, 

but do not know where it come from and where it is going; 

so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)

†

We want to go as it leads us...

What Is Love?

As I hear numerous responses from many different places on the results of the special session of General Conference of the United Methodist Church this week, I begin to wonder what the love truly mean for us, the followers of Jesus Christ.

Two thousands years ago, people were confused with what they thought of the most crucial thing for them to practice as a body of Christ and what actually Jesus showed them through his life, death and resurrection as the most crucial thing for them to practice as his body, the church. Simply saying, they were confused with what they wanted to do and what God wanted them to do.

Apostle Paul described it vividly and tangibly through his letter to the church in Corinth, the 1st Century Postmodern World, so to speak, drawing the healthy boundary between God's and human's. 

The healthy line is "Love", not humanly love but divine love - the active love of God for his Son and his people, and the active love his people are to have for God, each other, and even enemies!

Without Love, We Are Nothing based on 1 Corinthians 13 by Ansan Choir

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have 

not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and 

all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, 

but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 

and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothings." 

(1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NKJV)  

†

  

Two thousand years later, we are still confused with what we thought of the most crucial thing for us to practice as a body of Christ and what actually Jesus showed us through his life, death and resurrection as the most crucial thing for us to practice as his body, the church. Simply saying, we, the 21st Century Postmodernists, are now also confused with what we want to do and what God wants us to do.

Now we want to hear Paul again...

Without Love, We Are Nothing based on 1 Corinthians 13 by a Family Group in Rome United Church

"Though we speak with the tongues of angels that can touch people's heart and evoke 

their feelings and emotions and make them to applaud, but have not love, we have 

become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though we have the gift of prophecy, 

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge in the scripture with a sound theology 

and though we have all faith, so that we could remove mountains, but have not love, 

we are nothing. And though I bestow all our goods to feed the poor and heal the 

sick, and though we give our body to be burned for the transformation of the world, 

but have not love, it profits us nothings." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, paraphrased)    

What are we doing now?

It is time to love with the same love of Jesus through our joyful obedience together!