Thanking God for the Life of Dr. James Kennedy

James Kennedy, the founder of Evangelism Explosion (E.E.), passed away and entered eternal glory yesterday and I'm sure a pretty cool party was thrown in heaven for him, for his ultimate homecoming. Both directly and indirectly, E.E. has been used to help share the Gospel to millions of people around the world.

I own a huge debt of thanks for this man's ministry that taught me how to articulate and share my faith. Back when I was in jr. high, and after tasting salvation for the first time, I was so pumped about the lost but had trouble knowing exactly what to say to my not-yet-Christian friends around me. I *tried* to witness ... starting with the book of ... ahem ... Revelation (!) ... and shared about the end times when Christ comes and final judgment. I would have informal Bible studies on Revelation in the school cafeteria, but I knew I needed to improve in this Gospel sharing thing instead of just answering questions about the Beast and the anti-Christ that were to come.

So in high school, some friends of mine from Hebron Church (Rich Khong and Joshua Ku) told me about the Evangelism Explosion course their church goes through and I was sooooooooo excited to sign up and take that course. We didn't learn much in week one, but the little I learned, I began to share with friends around me and I started to see people get saved (I think the homework for week one was simply to memorize the words: God, man, sin, Christ, grace) ... but hey, that was more than I knew before! So I took steps of faith, I shared, and God saved. It was the beginning of a new passion for evangelism and the lost that consumed my heart. And later on, EE combined with the Navigators Bridge to Life would turn into the basic Gospel message that I still use to this day whenever I preach to a new group of people.

So any fruit that came out of my Gospel sharing for the past 17 years was always somehow connected to Kennedy's ministry. For that I am eternally grateful. As I heard the news about his death on the radio yesterday, they shared how he would turn down speaking engagements (which would often be at very large gatherings) so that he wouldn't miss taking 2 people from his church out for evangelism training.

A humble and faithful man, used by God to train the world, for the salvation of many. This is one verse that I think represents Kennedy's life ...

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,
like the stars for ever and ever."
Daniel 12:3

I'm so excited to know that he's shining in eternity now ...

Currently Listening The Joshua Tree By U2 Where the Streets Have No Name

On the Move

Family Honor

In honor of Father's Day here in Australia, this week's message was from Ephesians 6:1-4 on the role of fathers and children in the family of faith. Here are the download links: Sermon MP3 (iTunes), the Sermon Handout, and the Weekly Memory Verse.

On the Move

Hyun and I will be spending the next several weeks in Korea and various parts of the US to pray and prepare for our possible (probable?) move sometime next year. Please pray for God's clear guidance for us as we meet with different people and pray through different cities. Thanks and hopefully I'll be able to update during our travels.

Pray for Robert

And I'd like to also ask for prayer for one of our worship leaders whose name is Robert. He just found out that he has cancer in several (about 6-7) parts of his body. He's in pain, but he still led worship today without letting anyone know until after our service. Please pray for God's mighty healing power to be displayed in Robert's life. Thanks so much.

Currently Listening Wide Awake in America By U2 The Three Sunrises

Free At Last

Koreans Are Free

The remaining Korean hostages have finally been released! Praise GOD! After six weeks of intense prayer and drama, and after 2 of the hostages being killed, the rest have been released safely. Our congregation can finally celebrate God's answer after weeks of prayer. But reports cite that the Taliban still have 1 German and 4 Afghan hostages in captivity, so let's continue to pray for their safe release as well.

Birthday Thanks

Thanks for all the birthday blessings that were sent my way. I definitely think all these social networking sites have changed the way people remember birthdays. And life seems to get faster and shorter with every year that passes by. I read something recently that said, "What I do today will determine who I become in 10 years" ... and with that in mind, it was time once again to set up new goals and renew old disciplines. My newest life-goal is to "seek wisdom".

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. [Proverbs 4:7] Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. [Psalm 90:12] If what I do today determines who I become in 10 years, then I want to spend today with God and seek Him all my days.

Currently Listening Free at Last By dc Talk The Hardway

Brief Update [EDIT]

It's been a busy week so I wasn't able to post podcast updates until now. MP3 memory verses (Lamentations 3:22-23), sermons and outlines have been uploaded. You can get the sermon here and the sermon outline here. My cousin was in town from Hong Kong/Korea so it was great catching up with him. Though we were both from Chicago, we've seen each other more in other countries than we have in the US.

I also wanted to pass on some links to some great resources too:

You can go here for some free MP3 downloads by Wayne Grudem on Biblical manhood and womanhood and also a few lectures on being a Christian in the marketplace (Buying, Selling, and Profit and also one on Competition and Corporations). He's written a book on "Doing Business and Pleasing God" which I think can be helpful for those in the corporate world. Also, here's a great link on financial help for Christians who are thinking about adoption. Pass on the info to those whom you think can benefit from these resources too. Have a great weekend y'all! :)

[EDIT] Podcasts Updated

* Weekly memory verses have been updated here.
(Philippians 4:13; 4:6-7)

* This week's sermon can be downloaded through iTunes here.
(God Honoring Worship)

* The sermon outline can be downloaded here.
(2 Samuel 6:1-23)

[END EDIT]

Currently Reading The Unity of the Bible: Unfolding God's Plan for Humanity see related Daniel P. Fuller

Prosperity and the Poor

Christianity Today has an article on the rapid spread of the prosperity Gospel in Africa and it's heartbreaking to read that it is because of America they have this destructive teaching in their churches.

"[The prosperity gospel] is the most sweeping movement within the continent of Africa," says Dolan. "The African people at large in the church have bought into it hook, line, and sinker. It offers tremendous promise to an economically deprived people."

It's also an issue of controversy for some of the larger churches in Australia. But instead of holding up cash and cars in front of people to chase after, I'd much rather see the Western Church helping to feed the poor and heal the sick. There was a great interview of Bono (of U2) by Bill Hybels during the Leadership Summit last year and I think Bono's "Gospel" to Africa is a much better one for us to embrace and proclaim.

Currently Listening All That You Can't Leave Behind By U2 Grace

Happy Days

Sunny Days

I thought summer was almost here until the sudden temperature change the past couple of days. But Hyun and I were able to enjoy the summer weather while it lasted over the weekend. I think these drastic changes in the weather isn't helping those who are sick. I was talking to a doctor recently and he was telling me that this was one of the worst flu seasons he had ever seen; thankfully we've been able to say healthy so far (my secret: wash your hands often, drink lots of OJ and eat lots of garlic :) I've been experimenting more in the kitchen and garlic is my go-to ingredient :) Mmmmm ....

Happy Cowboy Days

It's also an exciting time of year because the NFL pre-season has started and my Dallas Cowboys are back with a win in their first game last weekend over the Super Bowl champ Colts. I think it's a foreshadow of what is to come. PLUS Michael Irvin was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame recently too.

He was drafted in 1988 and after Aikman got drafted in 1989, I knew the Aikman to Irvin combo was going to be a special one. He was a bit cocky during his playing days, thus earning the nickname "The Playmaker", but later on he grew up quite a bit just in time for his kids. Here are some highlights from his induction speech:

A Changed Man

"The threshing floor is where you take your greatest fear and you pray for help from your great God. I want to share something with you today. I have two sons. Michael, he's 10, and Elijah, he's 8. Michael and Elijah, could you guys stand up for me. (They did.) That's my heart right there. That's my heart. When I am on that threshing floor, I pray. I say, 'God, I have my struggles and I made some bad decisions, but whatever you do, whatever you do, don't let me mess this up.'

"I say, 'Please, help me raise them for some young lady so that they can be a better husband than I. Help me raise them for their kids so that they could be a better father than I. And I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than dad."

"Why must I go through so much?

"At that moment a voice came over me and said, 'Look up, get up, and don't ever give up. You tell everyone or anyone that has ever doubted, thought they did not measure up or wanted to quit, you tell them to look up, get up and don't ever give up.'"

Podcast Updated

And the sermon and memory verse podcasts have been updated. You can find the links on the right and you can download the sermon outline here. I had to preach for the 10:30am, 3:00pm and the 6:00pm services on Sunday so I was a bit more tired this past Monday, thus the late post for today. Well, have a great week and may you delight living each moment ... in His presence.

Currently Listening Songs About Jane By Maroon 5 She Will Be Loved

A Sick Weekend

Sicko

Hyun received free tickets to Michael Moore's documentary, Sicko, so we went to see it this weekend. This movie takes a look at the US health care system (or lack of it I should say) and compares it to various other countries who have a universal health care system. It was a very sobering and disturbing look at how weak the US system is in caring for people, especially the poor. You can watch some video clips here.

I never realized how broken our US medical system was until I had chance to live in Canada, Korea and Australia, which all have universal health care (to some degree). If people get a serious illness in the US, it will pretty much cripple that person's finances through major debt, but in countries with universal care, the system is created to make sure that getting sick won't add stress to your life by seeing all your money disappear because of all the bills.

I've seen specialists and the emergency rooms in each of these countries and I haven't paid a cent after leaving the hospital. I simply signed my release and never worried about a bill.

Governments and the health care industry were created to serve the people, not make money off of the people and I think that's something that bothered me greatly about the US "system". It actually made us wonder if we should stay in Australia =) But it also gave me a desire to enter politics for the first time in my life, hoping to bring about a change from the ground up ... establishing a system that will actually care for the people and the poor, as God calls us to.

Defend the cause of the weak ... maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed [Psalm 82:3] He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. [Proverbs 14:31] He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done. [Proverbs 19:17] Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them. [Proverbs 22:22-23] The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. [Proverbs 29:7] Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” [Proverbs 31:9] I pray that this will become the mark of the next leaders for the Church and for our government.

Sick

Sunday was also a good reminder of the needs of those who are sick. It was good to have Hermann and his team back for the afternoon service, but he'll be leaving for Korea to support his uncle who is very sick at the moment. Both of his kidneys have failed and so Hermz will be heading to over there for prayer, support and a little Gospel action too for several weeks. Please pray for his uncle to experience Christ and find healing.

There were several more congregation members who are in need of prayers that I'd like to share:

1. Margaret (who is a key leader for the 3PM service) was just diagnosed with skin cancer and asks for much prayer on her behalf.

2. Robert (who is on the praise team) is still in recovery from his cancer and will have an important examination on Thursday to see if he will need more surgery. He asks that the results will be negative for his tests this week and for a complete recovery.

3. Ruth will be going in for tests this Tuesday and asks for prayer concerning her cysts to not be serious that were discovered in her breast recently.

4. And for Sui (Sue), who I shared last week was found to be cancer free, is still weak in her time of recovery and asks for restored strength for her body.




Podcasts

An added blessing this weekend was the return of our anointed piano player Daniel David, so we recorded a bunch of new memory verses which should last us until his next visit. You can listen to the verses here. His music ministry sooths the soul =) Sunday's sermon (Growing Deeper Through Discipleship) can be downloaded through iTunes here and you can get the sermon outline here. Praying for healing for our friends and for the nations ...

Currently Reading Knowing God By J. I. Packer

Amazing Grace

Finally in Australia

The movie Amazing Grace, which is the true story of William Wilberforce, has finally arrived in Australia. It'll be a great outing for small groups to attend together and discuss afterwards. The official movie website offers some resources and study guides for you to use, which you can access here.

Podcast Updated

Last Sunday's sermon is uploaded and can be downloaded on iTunes here or through the podcast player on the right. And the sermon outline can be downloaded here. Have a great week and let's continue to stay in prayer for the Korean hostages in Afghanistan. Praying for a peaceful and quick resolution to this crisis.

Currently Listening Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs Of Keith Green By Various Artists There Is A Redeemer (Michelle Tumes)

Healing and Hope

Healing

Siew (Sue) is a congregation member of Wesley Church whom we've been praying for, for the past several weeks concerning her cancer. Last Sunday we just found out that God had completely taken all traces of cancer out of her body! Praise God for His healing hand and His answer to our prayers! Our 3:00pm service has a time set apart for healing prayer after each service and it's been amazing to see how God has been answering so many prayers in the past few months. Many have been healed, there are testimonies of divine protection in times of danger and hearts that have been recommitted to Christ after years of apathy towards Him. Just wanted to honor God through this short testimony about His faithfulness and power =)

Door of Hope

And I also wanted to promote a special ministry here at Wesley. The women's ministry of Wesley Mission has a special program called "The Door of Hope", which is a recovery ministry for women who have been sexually abused. It's a 10-week course seeking to help bring restoration, strength and hope in a safe environment. For those who would like a presentation done about this ministry in your church, or if you know of someone who could benefit from this program, please let me know and I'll be happy to connect you.

Podcast Updated

Last Sunday's sermon is also uploaded. You can listen to it in the podcast player on the right or download it through iTunes here. And the sermon outline can be downloaded here. I'm taking them through the purposes of a church and hopefully it'll help them establish a good foundation for the years to come :) Please continue to pray for me and for my time at Wesley, that though it's a temporary position for me, that it might be a fruitful one. Thanks.

Currently Listening Much By Ten Shekel Shirt Healer

Sydney, Coffee and Chocolate

Sydney with Sabastian

Hermann, Minsang and I took Sabastian around Sydney on Monday. It was awesome to hear about the ways God blessed the New Life retreat last week, and I loved talking ministry with a fellow brother who has a passion for His Kingdom being built through the local church. I'm looking forward to see what God has in store for us in terms of future partnership. For those who don't have facebook, here's a link to some of our pictures. It was Sabastian's childhood dream to go inside a warship, so he was like a kid in a candy store when we went past the Maritime Museum.

Coffee and Chocolate


The Rocks in Sydney is going to have an "Aroma Festival" this Sunday (July 22) from 10am to 5pm, celebrating coffee, chocolate, tea and spices ... and chocolate! =) I think I know where I'll be having my lunch break this Sunday =) And here's a link to the list of venues that will be having stalls that day. For lovers of coffee, chocolate, tea and spice ... I think that covers almost everyone, no?

Currently Listening Achtung Baby By U2 Ultra Violet (Light My Way)

Humble Eyes

Podcast Updated

Just uploaded this week's sermon on humility, entitled "Humble Eyes". You can listen to it through the podcast player on the right or download it through iTunes here, and you can get the sermon outline here. We'll finally be getting to our church series next week and begin developing Wesley's structure to be a bit more efficient and effective for growth and ministry. God always seems to be bringing a new group of old friends to each service, which I count as a gift from above. So thanks for those who make the time to come out. I count each of you as a gift.

A Song Behind the Sermon

This topic of having "humble eyes" is something God was teaching me throughout my college years. It was one of the biggest lessons of my life during those years, tearing away my desire to live for people and instead, to live for the Audience of One. It also led to me to write one of my first songs, with the same title. You can hear a sample here. Here are the lyrics:

Humble Eyes

A humble heart and humble eyes
To see myself as common in my eyes to see You
Ears to hear You, a heart that loves You
More than my own life I give You, Lord I need You
More and more I need You, more and more I need ...

Your humble heart, Your humble eyes
That saw Yourself as common in Your eyes that saw me
Your ears that heard me, Your heart that loved me
More than Your own life You gave me, Lord you saved me
More and more I need You, more and more I need ... You

ANZ

Kiwi Buddies

The picture above is the group of friends from New Zealand who visited last week. It was a blast hanging out with them again in the city. It's been over 2 years since I last saw them at a retreat in Auckland. A lot of NZ reminded me of Vancouver for its natural beauty and its combination of mountains and the ocean. For those who plan on visiting Sydney, make sure you also set aside a few days to explore New Zealand as well ... if you're going to come ALL the way over here, you might as well hit that country too =)

And thanks for those who prayed for my niece Jaelyn, she and my sister are well and finally went home a couple of days ago. Can't wait to hold her =) Have a great week ... in His presence.

Currently Listening U218 Singles By U2 Original of the Species

My Beautiful Niece is Born

Meet Jaelyn Chung

My sister just gave birth to her first child, a beautiful and very cute daughter named Jaelyn. I'm pretty sure I'm not being biased by saying that my niece is very very good looking =) She's still in the hospital right now due to a slight infection so please pray for her quick recovery so she can go home to Mom and Dad soon.

I love this picture (below) of her peeking through one eye to see who's watching her. I'm sure my dad will be going photo crazy so it's just a matter of time before I'll have plenty of pictures to show off. Hopefully I'll be in the US soon to visit my new niece =) Can't wait!

Regular Update

And for my regular podcast updates, last Sunday's sermon outline and MP3 can be downloaded here, part 2 of our "Growing Firm Foundations" series ... a look at digging deeper into God's Word.

Kiwi Blessings

An extra blessing for this weekend was seeing a lot of friends from New Zealand who flew over for the Hillsong Conference which was held last week. I haven't seen most of them in over 2 years. It's very cool how God's been enabling me to reconnect with a lot of old friends these days both physically and through the net (well, mainly Facebook!).

Currently Listening X&Y By Coldplay Talk

Reflections on Blessings Past, Present and Future

Matt, Paul and Me

Happy USA and Canada Day

First off, Happy 4th of July to my American buddies. Some of the Korean-Americans in Sydney had a nice BBQ dinner last night to celebrate the birthday of the good 'ol US of A. And also Happy Canada Day to my Canadian buddies. I think it was last week (?) :P Oh Canada.

Ministry Food

Matt, Paul and I (pictured above) had a nice lunch last week to catch up on things and to talk ministry. They both started seminary and I've been enjoying the new questions they have now that they're starting to get their feet wet a bit more in ministry. I'm very hopeful for the future of the Australian church with a whole new generation of ministers being raised up in this country. May their passion be pure and may Christ be their everything.

Podcast Updated

The latest sermon has been uploaded to my podcast and you can download the sermon outline here. I'm also in the middle of trying to organize the past sermons a bit better - by text and hopefully by topic in the near future. It's located in a new link I made called sermon archives. I only have the Ruth series and some of the 1 Timothy there right now, but my goal is to get everything there eventually (MP3 and outlines).

I don't know why I'm like this, but I always want to keep organizing things more and end up spending so much time trying to think of more efficient and effective ways to access information. Anyone else like this? I'd love to talk through organizational systems with someone ... anyone? :P Anyways ...

Heart Transition

With the possibility of moving back to America becoming more of a reality (after leaving the US over 12 years ago!), each day is filled with so many mixed emotions. I get excited at the thought of living closer to friends and family members that I haven't seen in years (and in some cases decades!), celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas again ... and a new vision of seeing the Kingdom of God grow in a new city. But also, it makes me appreciate every friendship and partnership that God has blessed me with here in Australia over the past 6 years. So much has happened ... and so much is yet to come.

Past Goodness

But ultimately, with faith, I'm always excited about the next adventure God has in store for me. Throughout my life, whenever God led me to a new country ... though I was nervous at first, God blessed me in ways I could have never imagined.

USA. God raised me, saved me and called me into ministry in this country. I'm thankful God brought our family here on July 4, 1976 (USA's 200th birthday!). It freaks me out to think about how different my life and faith would have been if it wasn't on this path of grace God led me on in the city of Chicago (baby!). It was through my youth group days that I tasted the joy of salvation and first got my itch for ministry. This is where it all began.

Canada was one of the happiest times of my life ... and it was a place of healing for me, a place of falling in love with learning (and books!) and a place where the community gave me a taste of heaven - it was amazing. And by far, the most beautiful place to be and enjoy God's creation (as long as it's not raining!)

Korea expanded my vision for His Kingdom, challenged me in ministry like never before, and pushed me to grow in every area of my life, while gaining a heart for the nations by meeting wonderful people from all over the world.

Australia expanded the capacity of my heart to embrace people for life and be willing to lay down my life for the flock that was entrusted under my care. I was ready and more than willing to lay down my life for my family at New Life. I love them so deeply. And I could never trade the joy of seeing so many lives change ... to see lives fall in love with our Savior and have Christ be their everything.

Future Grace

So though I didn't know those things would happen before I went to each place, I'm glad that they did. And in light of God's goodness in my past, I'm can look to the future with equal expectation and excitement, knowing that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ. And for this moment now, to be thankful, content and happy to be in His presence. Peace.

Currently Listening The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume 1 By Rich Mullins Step By Step (O God You Are My God)

Hello Goodbye

Sonia, Hermann, Daniel, Me (photo by Sung Ho Lee)

Hello

Thanks for everyone's prayers concerning this past Sunday's Gospel presentation. Several people in both the morning and afternoon congregations surrendered their lives to Christ for the first time and others made re-commitments. Praise God for His grace that saves and the party He throws in heaven when people turn to Him. And I also know that the prayers that were lifted up for that day will also be honored by God in eternity, so again thanks so much for them.

Goodbye

One sad part was it was Daniel's last day serving as the piano/organist of Wesley Church. He's been there for several years and the congregation is going to miss him big time. He has an anointing in his music ministry that set my heart to worship each time he touched the piano. But Lord willing our paths will cross again in the future and we'll be able to partner together to build His Kingdom. It was a joy to be able to pray for him corporately as a final gift for the blessing he's been to us.

Podcasts Updated

As always, you can listen to the message in the podcast player on the right or download it through iTunes here. And you can download the sermon outline here. Daniel and I recorded a bunch of new memory verses for the podcast, but I just discovered that the mic on the piano wasn't working! That stinks. Do we'll have to wait till the next time he visits Sydney to do some more recordings. Sorry about that! :P

Currently Listening Adios: Greatest Hits By Audio Adrenaline Goodbye

A Commentary on Commentaries

Finding a Commentary

Several people the past few days have asked me about finding good commentaries. So instead of making a long list, I've been recommending these two books which give a great summary and review of various commentaries for both the New and Old Testament.

For the New Testament

For the New Testament, D.A. Carson has recently revised his excellent New Testament Commentary Survey. This will give you some of the top evangelical commentaries to choose from for each book of the New Testament. A helpful tool for teachers, pastors and leaders. For my Australian friends, you can find the Koorong link here. Koorong is having a 15% off sale this weekend so it might be a good time to buy it. And for my US/Canada buddies, I've provided a link from Christianbook.com here.

For the Old Testament

Tremper Longman III has done the survey of commentaries for the Old Testament in this series with Carson. The Koorong link is here and the Christianbook.com link is here. It's a helpful book for those who want to find the best resource for in depth studies on individual books of the Bible.

Please Pray for Me

And please pray for me concerning this weekend's sermon. I feel led to share my testimony and preach purely on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After getting a chance to talk to more people at Wesley, I feel it's time to share the foundation of our faith this weekend.

Pray that those who don't know Christ yet will experience and understand the eternal life-changing message of the Cross. And pray that God would anoint me and use me to proclaim His message clearly and with conviction. Thank you always for each prayer that is lifted up. God will remember and reward you for them =)

Currently Listening Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994 By Sting Fields of Gold