Heralds of Light, Speed Away!

“To the millions that are lying in darkness, Heralds of light, speed away, 

to the souls that long to hear of the Savior, carry the bright gospel ray. 

Heralds of light, speed away, carry the bright gospel ray, dark the night of sin, 

let the sunlight in, Heralds of light, speed away! (Lewis Edgar Jones, 1865-1936)

 

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

 

It is quite a new feeling we have as we step into the New Year 2023. I feel like I am a whole new person! Is that true to you all? No?

 

One day, I strangely awoke with a song that I used to sing when I was in Korea some years ago. Then, for a certain reason, that song just stayed in my head all day long, “To the millions that are lying in darkness, Heralds of light, speed away, Heralds of light, speed away!” I did not know why and I did not know how it happened. And I could not get rid of it from my brain all day long. It was like what God was speaking to me on that day for this New Year reminding me “You are the herald of light, wake up!” Who am I? I am a good Methodist. “Amen!” So, I responded. However, not just me, but we are the Heralds of light, aren’t we?

 

Anyway, not long ago, someone shared a story about how she overcame the whole darkness and heaviness in her and upon her after she lost her job, a very high paying position. Then, she lost her appetite and even her motivation to do anything. So she didn’t do anything for several months just lying in her bed and watching TV all day. It was like she was in a deep dark pit. 

 

Of course, she did not like what she was doing all day long and she wanted to get out of that; however, “I could not,” she said. Then, one day, on the TV screen, there was a historic rocket launching, I mean, a space shuttle counting down. The main engines started and…  “Five, four, three, two, one and lift up.” 

 

The space shuttle left with a roaring sound from the platform to the space. So powerful! It impressed her deeply. So in a moment, she decided to count down to launch from her bed. And guess what? It worked. So she became a motivational speaker sharing how she got out of her bed of depression and despair and fear. By just counting down for five seconds! Very interesting story, isn’t it?  

 

We know how joyfully we celebrated Christmas or New Year’s Day or any special day in our life that makes us super exciting, it does not always stay long. And there is always a time of deep sorrow and depression and despair losing any appetite or motivation of our life like her. If it is our case, we need to get out of it right away because we have a place to go, don’t we?

 

Somewhat, it led me to touch the deep inside of my spiritual journey with God. I am called to live truthfully, faithful, purposefully, and fruitfully for the kingdom of God eternal as a child of God because of the image that we have in us, the image of God. Am I in deep sleep or dormant spiritually from there due the busyness of this season? I mean, physically busy but spiritually dormant. It is also possible, isn’t? Or maybe from the hardship of my life or from the fear of unknown?

 

About twenty seven hundred years ago, Israel was in deep depression, hopelessly, because they went through the dark days of the civil war between Israel and Judah, north and south, then the destruction of Israel by Assyria and more. A prophet Isaiah delivered God’s message of judgement in the near future. However, God also woke them up through him,

 

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. 

For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you” (Isiah 60:1, NLT).

 

It sounds like a spiritual countdown to launch a space shuttle to reach the space, doesn’t it?

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, where are you now as we enter into the New Year 2023? And, do you know where to go, I mean, our spiritual destination for this year? And are we awake now or still in bed spiritually? It is time to lift up! Let us countdown together with those words from Isaiah,

 

“Arise! Let your light shine for all to see!”

 

So now, I’d like to invite you to come and join us in this month of January to get out of where you are and experience the true joy of God as a church together! God will guide our ways as we arise and shine! Isn’t that exciting? So now, join us!

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul

For to Us a Child is born!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be 

upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!” (Isiah 9:6, ESV).

 

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

 

As we enter into the new Christian year through the Advent season, it seems like we have a huge competition going on in this world so called World Cup 2022. Quite an existing world event, isn’t it? So, many people around the world raising their voices of joy or vice versa as a result of each games. I am pretty sure that many people are praying for winning of their teams or countries. 

 

But I am just wondering if all Christians are praying for the victory of their own countries or teams, what is going to be God’s answer because no matter how hard people pray, there will be always winners or losers? Then, where is the living God when our team loses and do we still see hope when our team loses? But here is the truth.

 

“But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven” (Psalm 11:4, NLT).

 

The Lord still rules from heaven? What’s that mean? When there was a severe drought in Israel about twenty six hundred years ago, one day, a prophet Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Looks like a loser, wasn’t he! 

 

Then, he asked his servant, “Hey, do you see any sign of rain from the sea in the sky?” So his servant went out and looked. However, there’s nothing! Then Elijah prayed and asked him again and again and again because there was no sign of rain at all. Looks like a loser again! However, finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea!” What? The size of a man’s hand? Looks like a loser again! However, not long after that, the sky turned black with clouds and a heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm. Wow! Victory!

 

I am pretty sure that Elijah’s servant might not think that there would be rainstorm when he just saw a very tiny little cloud about the size of a man’s hand from afar. It was truly trivial, meaningless and ignorable; however, for Elijah, it was a sign of the end of the drought. Why? Because he prayed and he knew that God still rules from heaven!

 

So he told a king Ahab in faith, “Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you! (1 King 18:44b, NLT).

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, have we seen any signs of a tiny little cloud, the size of our hand in our life as we begin this special month of December, I mean, as we encounter with the time of many forms of drought from the hopelessness that we experience around the world; from the uncertainty that the world shows us right in front of us; or from the confusion that the kings and lords of the world brought us into our life? So what do we do? We will pray like a terrific winner, Elijah. Why? Because sooner or later, we will see a tiny little cloud in a manger, I mean, a powerless child in a lowly place who makes everything anew. His name is Immanuel, God with us! We will see tat this tiny baby will grow with us to fulfill the promise of God.

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes 

in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

 

So now, I’d like to invite you to come and join us in this month of December to see the little cloud in the sky, I mean, to meet with the tiny little baby Jesus in a manger, through our prayers. We will truly see how that tiny little baby grow in us to bring the newness of the whole world! Isn’t that exiting? So now, join us!

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul

Be Thankful in All Circumstances!

 

“Let everything that breathes sing praise to the Lord!” 

(Psalm 150:6, NLT)

 

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

 

Now, we have only two months left for this year 2022, November and December. However, in the Christian Calendar, we are running toward the end of the year in this month of November. How come? It’s because the Christian new year begins with the preparation of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem through the Advent season right after Thanksgiving and it ends at Christ's return. It means, for us, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Christ the King Sunday, is the last week before the new beginning. 

 

Are we ready for that, the new beginning? However, before we ask that question, I want to ask this question first. “Are we ready to finish this year’s race well?” 

 

Some years ago, when I had Army training in my early twenties, we had to march for about 20 hours without sleeping with the full combat gear. There were lots of ups and downs during those hours, I mean uphills and downhills; however, the most hardest moment was the time when I saw the entrance of the basecamp from afar ahead of me. I remember that suddenly my two legs turned to be like a jellyfish as soon as I knew that I was almost there. I actually don’t remember how I finished that, especially for the last five minutes. I think I dragged my feet. And I finished it. Hallelujah!

 

Anyway, for the Christian soldiers who fought the good fight to bless the world, it is truly a waiting game because it was Jesus’ promise to come back and reign over us with his love and compassion, justice and peace. It has been over two thousand years so far after we heard from him like this.

 

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay 

all people according to their deeds” (Revelation 22:12, NLT).

 

We endured the hot summer sun of hardships, we overcame the fear of darkness and uncertainty, and we broke through the mountains of challenges, fixing our eyes on this promise holding the power through him in faith.

 

As I finish the last month of this year’s Christian race, the Apostle Paul who stood boldly in front of the Roman Emperor two thousand years ago came to my mind. He truly wanted to bless those with the blessings that he received from Jesus. Even in his last moment in the prison before being persecuted, he wrote about how he ran the race.

 

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 

(2 Timothy 4:7, NRSV). 

 

First of all, he fought the GOOD fight, then he FINISHED it! And last of all, he KEPT his faith! But how can we fight the good fight like Paul?; How can we finish this year’s race like Paul?; And how can we keep the faith like Paul? 

 

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is

God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT). 

 

That was how he ran the race because he belonged to Jesus!

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we belong to Jesus and we will finish our race this year through giving thanks to God with grateful hearts like Paul so that God can make our faith alive in our new beginning!

 

So now, I’d like to invite you to come and join us in this month of November to finish the race well, in the season of thanksgiving. We will fight the good fight, finish the race and keep our faith for our new beginning! So now, Join us!

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul

It's Time to Plant!

 

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be 

born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, NLT). 

 

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

 

It is quite a change now-changing colors, changing temperature, changing scenery, and even changing hearts. As I drive outside of the town, farmers are busily but excitingly harvesting crops. And the golden fields are becoming empty and open. However, as the land get emptied and open, the sense of joy and thanksgiving is flooding our hearts even though we all are not farmers in that field. Interesting, isn’t it? So now, what season are you truly walking into?

 

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! 

We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy” (Psalm 126, 1-2a, NLT).

 

About three thousand years ago, as everything went well and prosperous, Israel forgot something important and moved far from God, I mean they quit to follow His way, the divine and holy living. Then, the nation was divided and weakened and people were lost. As a result of moving far away from God’s holy living, there were full of tears because they lost their families, their friends, their homes and even their nation through a war. And then, the cruel Babylonian exile began. It was the season of tears after the season of empty joy far from the holy living.

 

However, several decades later, Hebrew slaves were able to return home from the exile. What a joy! It was like a dream. They were filled with laughter. Even all other nations around them said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” In other words, they had a new season, a season of joy.

 

Can we imagine that, for several decades, they had lived in a foreign land, not by their will but by their enemy’s will, as war slaves. Language was difference, food was different, law was different, I mean the whole life style was different. It was a huge change, but in negative and hostile ways; however, the biggest challenge was to keep their faith in God who created heaven and earth, who made the promise of blessing with them. They remembered that promise in tears.

 

Interestingly, in the time of tears, they were able to return to God before they got back home from the exile. They began to plant the seeds of faith in tears in foreign land and then they harvested the fruits of their faith in joy!  

 

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy” (Psalm 126:5, NLT).

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, have you panted something in tears? Then, have you harvest something with shouts of joy so that all other people around you said, “What amazing things Lord has done for you!” Believe it or not, we are now stepping into the season of planting again, the seed of our faith, the seed of joy and thanksgiving, and the seed of life and light in tears, but to harvest with shouts of true joy, eternal.

 

So now, I’d like to invite you to come and join us in this month of October in the season of harvesting… I mean the season of planting to harvest with shouts of joy some day. This is truly the time to plant, isn’t it? So now, Join us!

 

Grace and Peace,

In the Middle of It...

 

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the 

glory of the Lord rises to shine on you” (Isiah 60:1, NLT).

 

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

 

Again, “Time flies!” The season of green is now switching to the season of orange and yellow. I mean the vacation season is over! Some of you might say, “Not yet!” Is that some kinds of resistance? I am not sure what you think though, it will come sooner or later! So now, are we ready to get back to normal routines, I mean, fast moving, busy working routines?

 

By the way, one day, I just heard a voice coming out of the deep conner of the house, “Oh, No! I have to go back to school in a few days!” It was more like a sound of groaning. I am pretty sure that some of you love to go back to work or school from a long break; however, it is so true that, for most of us, with little fear or little anxiety to get back to that.

 

Actually about hundred years ago, there was a man named Charles Austin Miles. He was a pharmacist. One day, however, he abandoned his pharmacy carrier and began to write gospel songs because he felt like it is better way to serve God. We know one of his songs is “In the Garden”. Its last verse goes like this if you remember.

 

“I’d stay in the garden with him though the night around me be falling, but he 

bids me go; through the voice of woe his voice to me is calling” (UMH 314).

 

I believe that he knew how comfort, how peaceful and how amazing it was when he was with the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. He might want to stay there forever with him in the garden because it’s worry free and stress free, in God’s new creation, apart from the human reality of pains and sufferings. However, he decided to go back with love and compassion because God gave him something to do.

 

This song reminds me a story of Isaiah over twenty five hundred years ago. Israel was so depressed and hopelessly down. The Bible describes it like this. “Darkness as black as night covered all the nations of the earth” (Isaiah 60:2). Can you imagine that? However, in the middle of it, they heard the voice of God, “Arise and shine!” Is that possible to rise and shine in that situation? Sure! When they obey it as they see the heart of God, I mean, the love of God, it is possible. So it is a creation story!

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, in this coming season of orange and yellow, God calls us to rise and shine! It is in the middle of fatigue from the vacation trip; it is in the middle of fighting with the health problems; it is in the middle of the fear of new classes; it is in the middle of anxiety in front of unknown fall and new opportunities… and grief and loneliness; and even in the middle of the physical, moral, financial, relational, and spiritual construction of our life. And we are still able to arise and shine because the glory of the Lord rises to shine on us!

 

So now, I’d like to invite you to come and join us in this month of September, our journey of “Arise and Shine!” as we get back to our normal routines. It starts from getting back to church each Sunday this month! So don’t forget that we will begin our never ending journey to the Kingdom of God eternal with Jesus again and we will find the true joy together!

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul

How long, O Lord, Until You Restore Me?

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take” 

(Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT).

 

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

 

Wow! Can you believe that it is already in August? Time flies! So, how’s your vacation time with Jesus going with you in this season so far? Now, wheat is harvested; corns, beans and peas are growing; hay is dried; and we are REFRESHED! Is that true to you all?  

 

We are actually having a very interesting summer around here in Markesan. One day in July, right after I came back home from my trip to Korea, I came to the church taking the road that I used to take before. But when I took a confident turn, a big sign said, “Road Closed!” It looked like there was some kind of road construction going on: black top was gone, the bare dark brownish soil was shown, and there were lots of plastic pipes, concrete pipes and construction equipment on the blocked road. 

 

So what could I do? I turned around and took a different road which was not blocked. However, it was truly a bumpy road, so on my way to be back home, I took another road on the other side of the church. However, it was also bumpy road because the smooth black top was all gone for the construction. So I asked our Mayer, “Is there any smoother road that I can find here around the church?” The answer was “No! Not for a while until the construction is finished!” So I asked him again, “How long, O Mayor, how long?” “Two more months until September!” “Two more months?”

 

“I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore me?” (Psalm 6:3, NLT).

 

Thanks be to God for it is ONLY two months!

 

We know we are not the only one who asks “How Long?” when we hit the bumpy road in our life… or even when we walk in the dark valley, when we are blocked by the gigantic mountainous challenges, when we are shaken by the storms or fall into the deep pit of our life that we are not able to do anything but fear and tremble and learn helplessness like David, Asaph, Moses, Solomon and all other unknown writers of those psalms. However, those psalms end in singing “Hallelujah!”

 

“Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” 

(Psalm 150:6, NLT). 

 

I wonder “why?” When we read them all, we know that it was because God showed them which way that they need to take for the safe arrival even taking all those bumpy roads as they seek his will in all they did, I mean as they look at God instead of all those bumpy roads ahead of them. 

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, during this season of summer, as we ride on those bumpy roads to the church, I mean to God’s salvation, to His Kingdom eternal, and to the Promised Land, to be a blessing for the world, we will continue to sing “Hallelujahs” because we are standing on the way, the truth and the life through Jesus Christ.

 

“The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27, 1a, NLT).

 

So now, I’d like to invite you to come and join us in this month of August, our bumpy road to the kingdom of God with Jesus alone! You will find true joy eternal!

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul

He Leads Me Besides Still Waters!

“Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, 

sat down by the well. It was about noon.” (John 4:6, NIV).

           

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

 

As the summer is getting deeper, the temperature goes up. However, it is not all. Every morning, the gas price surprised us because it also goes up with the temperature. Hmm! We don’t want to be overheated, do we?   

 

So every time, when we fill up the gas tank, we expel the hearted sighing steam from our nostrils to cool us down for a moment. However, is that enough? Then, what else can we do in this season of heated summer? It’s taking a little break from our heated routines, I mean, from the hard work! In other words, it is a vacation season. We all deserve it, don’t we? Hallelujah! 

 

I believe most of you have some sort of vacation plans during this summer, even for a couple of days of getting away time from the busyness of your life, even for a half-day. And if you do, may our living God bless your time for the refreshing and renewing of your minds, bodies and souls for tomorrow!

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his

name’s sake” (Psalm 23:2-3, ESV).

 

However, do you know that it is a long time biblical tradition as God rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done, I mean from the creation story in Genesis? This tradition has not stopped yet and will never because it has a very important role in our journey with God. It’s God’s design!

 

Two thousand years ago, one day, Jesus and his disciples came back from their trip to Jerusalem. It means, they were all tired. They needed a break because their journey would go on. So, when they arrived in the village named Sychar in Samaria, Jesus sat down by the well to rest while his disciples went to prepare their lunch because it was around the noon time. In other words, everyone in the village took a break from their work too like Jesus and his disciples. 

 

However, there was a woman who came to draw water alone, not to be seen by others. Warnings! Just wondering why this woman worked while all other people in town took a break for lunch? Their must be some bad stories about her, I presume. Maybe some stories that she wanted to hide from others? However, her life changed totally as she had a little time with Jesus by the well. In other words, her life was renewed and she found confidence of her life again. She got a perfect vacation even when she came to draw water while others took a break because she spent time with Jesus!

 

“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.

The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling

up to eternal life” (John 4:14, ESV).

 

That is what she got, “a spring of water welling up to eternal life!” from that very short vacation! Do we need that kind of vacation in this season of summer as all the trees and plants around us are continually growing up for fruits for the next season? Yes, we do! The true time with Jesus filled up by the living water he provides for the truthful, faithful, and fruitful life!

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, during this season of summer, a season of vacation, we will continue our journey to the Kingdom of God eternal together as we come and sit down by the well where Jesus is waiting like this Samaritan woman. In other words, we will have a perfect vacation time in this month of July with Jesus. 

 

Join us! 

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul