by Sam | Nov 6, 2018 | Inspiration, Reflection
It’s been said numerous times that teamwork makes the dream work. God will never give you a dream that doesn’t involve people. A dream that you can accomplish on your own is too small and not worth attempting. But it’s a big dream that requires all hands on deck. I love what Pastor Brian Houston says about the global movement that is taking place through his church. He says that Hillsong Church isn’t built on the gifts of the few, but on the sacrifice of the many. Wow! That’s exactly what a team is about. Ever since we officially established our Core Leadership Team, we’ve seen a giant leap take place in our growth. That’s the amazing thing about working as a team. The fruit and effectiveness doesn’t grow by addition, but by multiplication. So does the effort. It’s been a joy and journey learning how to function and operate as a team. If I’m honest though, working as a team isn’t my natural preference. Whenever there were school assignments, I was that one student who always preferred working alone because group projects required extra work. Now working as a team does demand more, but I’m learning that it’s worth it. Even God Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work as a team. When He first created Adam, He chose to partner with Him to name the animals. If anyone could work alone, it’s God, but He Himself values teamwork and partnership. Apostle Paul writes that you and I are co-laborers with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9). As the director of our ministry, I’m learning how to create a...
by Sam | Sep 25, 2018 | Guest Blogger, Inspiration, Reflection
by Koob Vang “Wilderness” is a word we often use to denote rough seasons in our lives. It’s sometimes a journey of loss and sorrow, and other times, a journey that’s weird and confusing. We find ourselves in agonizing pain and excruciating heartbreaks navigating through an endless tunnel. Something God has been really teaching me through the wilderness is to value the intimacy and the life that can only come while being in the wilderness. I’ve been overseas for over a year now and some days, it’s been a wilderness. There are only a few people I can fully express myself to. I’m limited by the language barrier. I can’t simply go down the street and buy something without struggling. I can’t pay my own bills without depending on others. And I can’t find any clothes that comfortably fits me (but this is totally my fault being American-sized). I wish there are times where I can just drop everything, be a student again, and take a summer vacation back to my parents’ place. But that’s not reality; I have to face the wilderness I’m in. There are two sides to the wilderness though. One that takes life away and the other that brings life. The Bible speaks of the wilderness as a place that is mostly dry, barren and filled with roaming wild animals. The prophet Jeremiah calls it “a land of desert and pits…drought and deep darkness…that none passes through, where no man dwells”. It is also called “arabah”, which may be translated to desert, wasteland, or pain. A few years ago I went to Israel and...
by Sam | Sep 4, 2018 | Inspiration
Summer is coming to a close, which means fall is just around the corner. Fall means the weather gets a bit colder, the leaves start to change, and football gets underway. Wins and losses don’t matter until the actual season begins, but there is a purpose to the pre-season. That’s when teams finalize their roster and athletes train for the grueling season ahead. They are willing to endure pain and pay the price so that when the season does begin, they are ready to go. They run up hills and do exercises that stretch them in the pre-season all because the real season matters. Ultimately they are training in pain in the pre-season so that they can play through the pain in the actual season. In the same way often times sowing is hard and painful like that of a pre-season. Why? Because actually reaping during the harvest season is going to be backbreaking labor. Sowing is hard because harvesting is harder, and we need that training. I believe we are on the verge of entering into a new season. So much of what we’ve been contending for and sowing into and watering will come to fruition, but currently we are in that pre-season time of preparation. One of the themes God has been speaking to us has been about new wine and new wineskins. (If you haven’t listened to the sermon from our most recent gathering by Janet, go listen to it now!) I believe this message isn’t just for our team or our ministry or even our region, but for the body of Christ at large. Recently...
by Sam | Jul 10, 2018 | Inspiration, Reflection
by Kevin Kim “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:13-16 (The Sermon on the Mount is arguably the greatest sermon ever given in history… so many messages have come from it including this blog post! So much depth in God’s word…) “You are the salt of the earth.” I’m sure by now everyone has been called salty at one point, but not in the way Jesus called us… so what does it mean to be salt? Salt is a seasoning – this is my favorite aspect of salt. A common way that salt is used is to add flavor to something, but another thing salt does is bring out the flavor of something. One of the weirdest encounters I’ve had with salt was when my friends told me that putting salt in chocolate milk would actually make it sweeter. I didn’t believe them so I never tried it, but that statement would haunt me from time to time. I finally decided to do some research… Through my thorough research (on...
by Sam | Jun 12, 2018 | Inspiration
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19 We all know that one guy, if you know what I mean… The truth is you never want to be “that guy.” That guy who can’t take a joke. That guy who drives under the speed limit. That guy who always ruins the ending of movies. That guy who just can’t keep secrets. The list goes on and on of someone just having to be that one guy. Sometimes they just can’t help themselves, but you find them everywhere. At work. At church. At school. At home. On Facebook (insert eye emoji here)… Maybe you’ve even been that guy before. It’s a real epidemic! In the Gospel of Luke, there’s a story where Jesus came across ten lepers during His travels. And what do you know, this encounter...
by Sam | Apr 17, 2018 | Inspiration, Reflection
“People lose their way when they lose their why.” – Michael Hyatt Whether it’s a new project, a new job, or a new semester, the first great challenge anyone faces is in just getting started. Once that first step is taken, it can be exhilarating and life-giving. Filled with conviction and a sense of calling, people are eager to begin in faith. It’s risky, but worth it. There’s a satisfaction that comes from just beginning a good work. Yet what I noticed is that while many of us can overcome that first challenge of simply beginning, we are often not ready to handle an even greater obstacle of sticking it through. I remember when I first started Pursuit NYC. It was risky, it was scary, but I was excited to start and pioneer something new. The timing felt right and there was a strong sense of calling from God. During this season God spoke clearly about what I was supposed to do. After much prayer, I shared what was on my heart with many trusted friends and leaders, who all affirmed what I was sensing. It was time! I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but God was leading and I was so fired up! There’s nothing like seeing the dreaming stage of the process start to come to life before your eyes. I overcame the challenge of starting by taking the first step. As anyone who has every started anything knows, it’s not all sunshines and flowers afterwards. I had a head on collision with a mix of unforeseen circumstances, challenges, and struggles that made me question why...
