By Rebecca Cho & Jimmy Diep
At the June 21 Primetime titled “Contentment,” I shared a little bit about some of the heartache and disappointments I’ve been enduring in my career as a journalist in the past year. Only a handful of people know the extent to which my work environment has caused me great anguish and only my sister knows the number of times I’ve come home in a mess of tears and vows to never go back. At the same time, as I searched for another job, all I could see were the crumbling newspapers and freezes in hiring. As I turned to God in prayer in the past year, I have often asked him for strength to endure the day and sometimes angrily questioned Him about His timing and His purpose in this trial. I became obsessed with the idea that if only God provided a better job for me and a nicer boss, I’d be so much happier. I would then be able to turn to God in thankfulness and worship Him. My thought life became consumed by “if only”s.
But in having dinner with two married Living Hope women recently, God reminded me of something I knew in my head, but was not letting into my heart. In a discussion about how marriage brings with it a host of issues and trials that singles don’t think about when they long for it, one of the women said, “No person or circumstance is going to bring us contentment.” Immediately, I felt pierced by the offhand comment. Was I not looking to my career for the contentment I could only find in seeking God? In reflecting on that comment and on my past two years at my job, I realized that God wants me to be content right now—not when I find another job, or make more money, or get married, but right now, no matter the circumstances. And the source for finding that contentment is God. Immediately, what Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13 came to mind, “…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Amen.
(second blog post)
Thoughts on “Contentment,” via email
Jimmy Diep, a Primer who has been coming out to the Westside cell group, had some insightful thoughts about contentment after he attended the Primetime. Thanks for letting us share this here, Jimmy!
When I first got the Primetime evite about "contentment," without having seen the video short, the first thought that came to mind was the idea of the "pilgrim"or "pilgrimage". In 1 Peter 2:11, Peter refers to his readers as "sojourners and exiles (ESV)", "aliens and strangers (NIV)."
And of course, there is Hebrews 11, specifically Hebrews 11:13-16: "These all died in faith, not having recieved the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been speaking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."
In terms of the Nooma video short by Rob Bell, I think discussions on contentment that center around the father/child relationship give a limited picture of what it means to be "content." We're (the audience) cast as the petulant child who doesn't know the big picture, and the child usually wants something that is denied him/her by the father. The end of the message is that we should be "content" with what is given us, because we don't know what the big picture is, and that we should trust God, who does. End of story. Be content.
But I think the (Biblical) idea of pilgrimage also feeds into the discussion of contentment (and gives it a fuller meaning). What I mean is that built into the idea of pilgrimage is the idea of a "Godly discontent" with things. By what was quoted in Hebrews, the Old Testament pilgrims were not content with what they saw around them as being the ultimate fruition of God's promises to them, so they kept moving, looking forward to a destination. They were not satisfied in their earthly lives because they knew, by faith, of something better coming - and God actually commended them for this.
Now, as believers who have by faith known of the death and resurrection of Christ, we have even a clearer picture of God's fulfullment of his promises, though not final, since that'll happen only when Christ returns and we're resurrected. But we still long for things, we still have some amount yearning that won’t be satisfied, too! So Paul says in Romans 8:22-23, that not only we groan, but creation groans as well, as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. He says in 1 Corinthians 15:19 that, "if in this life only we have hoped for Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." And also, in the same book where you quoted Paul's statement about contentment, in Philippians 3:7-16 he says that he presses on to that for which everything else compared looks like dung, yet has not attained.
...so this is just a very long-winded way of saying that sometimes the discontent believing folks experience (present company included) - the feeling that things just aren't right on the inside or on the outside - may not be just the complaint of petulant child, but may really be a reminder that the pilgrim has a destination, and that it's definitely not in this earthly realm: "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13:14). And for that, we draw near to God and give thanks.
From Rich Mullins' "Sometimes by Step"
"Sometimes I think of Abraham,
How one star he saw had been lit for me.
He was a stranger in this land;
I am that no less than he..." (emphasis mine)
Friday, July 3, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
A Taste of S.A.L.T. - "Madness" of the heart
By: Sarom Pyun
My home is filled beyond capacity at the moment. Five women are sitting around the table eating freshly steamed corn, still piping hot. My brother is on the couch next to me, doing something on his computer, and occasionally emitting a manly (?) giggle. In the living room, my uncle is talking to someone in Korea, trying to delay his re-entry into the country. Somewhere I hear my two year-old niece who I just met trying to learn how to pronounce my name. There are nine people cramped into my cozy three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home. It is, in short, a madhouse.
Our home was pristine just two days ago, after countless hours of effort on mostly my brother’s part. Yet one toddler and five additional Koreans later, it looks like we’ve been victimized by a Northridge-like quake. The once nicely Swiffered floors have gathered dust and other strange forms of stickiness (gross), the once Lysol-scented bathrooms have a strange, mothball-y smell to them, and each night the floors are covered with blankets and futon mattresses in an attempt to transform them into makeshift beds. Clutter is building upon clutter is building upon clutter is building upon…(you get the picture).
For some reason, the madness of my home has made me reflect on the “madness” of my heart. I have been reminded these past couple days of the importance of cleanliness – in my home of course, but even more importantly, in my heart. It takes but a moment for clutter to build in a home. One minute, everything could be in order, and at the blink of an eye, all could be in disarray (especially, I’ve learned these past couple days, if a toddler is involved). I’ve found that it is equally as easy for sin to enter into my life. A little thought here, a moment of impatience there, and before I know it, a small pile of sin has become a large mound somewhere in the corner of my heart. My dear brothers and sisters, as we examine the states of our hearts, may we continue to pursue holiness in all areas of our lives, obeying in response to His great grace, so that we may live in the way that He intended - as men and women who are freed from sin and alive to Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17"Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."
18"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
1Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
My home is filled beyond capacity at the moment. Five women are sitting around the table eating freshly steamed corn, still piping hot. My brother is on the couch next to me, doing something on his computer, and occasionally emitting a manly (?) giggle. In the living room, my uncle is talking to someone in Korea, trying to delay his re-entry into the country. Somewhere I hear my two year-old niece who I just met trying to learn how to pronounce my name. There are nine people cramped into my cozy three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home. It is, in short, a madhouse.
Our home was pristine just two days ago, after countless hours of effort on mostly my brother’s part. Yet one toddler and five additional Koreans later, it looks like we’ve been victimized by a Northridge-like quake. The once nicely Swiffered floors have gathered dust and other strange forms of stickiness (gross), the once Lysol-scented bathrooms have a strange, mothball-y smell to them, and each night the floors are covered with blankets and futon mattresses in an attempt to transform them into makeshift beds. Clutter is building upon clutter is building upon clutter is building upon…(you get the picture).
For some reason, the madness of my home has made me reflect on the “madness” of my heart. I have been reminded these past couple days of the importance of cleanliness – in my home of course, but even more importantly, in my heart. It takes but a moment for clutter to build in a home. One minute, everything could be in order, and at the blink of an eye, all could be in disarray (especially, I’ve learned these past couple days, if a toddler is involved). I’ve found that it is equally as easy for sin to enter into my life. A little thought here, a moment of impatience there, and before I know it, a small pile of sin has become a large mound somewhere in the corner of my heart. My dear brothers and sisters, as we examine the states of our hearts, may we continue to pursue holiness in all areas of our lives, obeying in response to His great grace, so that we may live in the way that He intended - as men and women who are freed from sin and alive to Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17"Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."
18"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
1Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
A Taste of S.A.L.T. - Personal Relationships
Written by Ron Han
This year's Prime Retreat was all about trying to develop deeper personal relationships - with each other, and of course, with God. Leading up to retreat, I often said that it was the desire of SALT to emphasize personal relationships this year. However, in retrospect, I don't think that was quite accurate. What I should have said is that the emphasis at retreat was a reflection of what the whole Prime Ministry seems to desire.
Here's something I've heard countless times in the last few months - "The Prime Ministry has a lot of momentum right now." I think that's an amazing statement. But I have to wonder where that momentum is taking us, and how we can best harness that momentum to do work for The Kingdom. In The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer offers a simple, yet powerful answer to the question of how we can best serve God and his church - "Acquaint thyself with God."
As with all substantive relationships, a relationship with God isn't something that begins on a Friday night and ends two days later. My personal prayer is that the Prime Retreat was a catalyst not the culmination. There was such honest sharing, desperate prayer and passionate worship at retreat, but I hope we didn't leave all that behind at Arrowhead Lutheran Camp. Instead, I hope it was just the beginning of a process that will allow us to embrace a deeper relationship with the Lord. If we can do that, then I really believe that the momentum of the Prime Ministry can put us in a position to do amazing things in His name.
As Pastor Stephen Chong would say, "Can I get a hallelujah!?"
Ron
This year's Prime Retreat was all about trying to develop deeper personal relationships - with each other, and of course, with God. Leading up to retreat, I often said that it was the desire of SALT to emphasize personal relationships this year. However, in retrospect, I don't think that was quite accurate. What I should have said is that the emphasis at retreat was a reflection of what the whole Prime Ministry seems to desire.
Here's something I've heard countless times in the last few months - "The Prime Ministry has a lot of momentum right now." I think that's an amazing statement. But I have to wonder where that momentum is taking us, and how we can best harness that momentum to do work for The Kingdom. In The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer offers a simple, yet powerful answer to the question of how we can best serve God and his church - "Acquaint thyself with God."
As with all substantive relationships, a relationship with God isn't something that begins on a Friday night and ends two days later. My personal prayer is that the Prime Retreat was a catalyst not the culmination. There was such honest sharing, desperate prayer and passionate worship at retreat, but I hope we didn't leave all that behind at Arrowhead Lutheran Camp. Instead, I hope it was just the beginning of a process that will allow us to embrace a deeper relationship with the Lord. If we can do that, then I really believe that the momentum of the Prime Ministry can put us in a position to do amazing things in His name.
As Pastor Stephen Chong would say, "Can I get a hallelujah!?"
Ron
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
2009 Resolved Conference
I was talking with Diane Cho the other day, and she told me that she is attending the Resolved Conference again this year. It's definitely worth exploring and attending. Here's the link to the conference. I asked Diane to write her thoughts about the conference from last year. And she writes ...
"Resolved gets its name from a list of 70 resolutions that Jonathan Edwards, one of the most influential theologians in America, wrote at the young age of 19. From this list, Pastor Rick Holland of Grace Community Church organized this conference for college students and young adults. The very first Resolved was held in 2005 with sermons based on Edwards' list of resolutions. Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to attend Resolved with sermons based on Edwards' resolutions about Heaven and Hell. This year, the theme of Resolved is Sin, no doubt based on Edwards' resolutions about sin.
The conference had an amazing line-up of speakers, including Rick Holland, John MacArthur, Randy Alcorn (the author of "Heaven"), Steve Lawson, CJ Mahaney, and John Piper. I was so encouraged by the honesty of each of the speakers, and their dedication to delivering the full truth of the Word of God. Each sermon on Heaven left me yearning to go there, and each sermon on Hell not only scared me with the truth, but had me looking toward Christ and the hope that I have in Him.
This year, I can't wait to see how God will reveal Himself to me through this conference. I'm am expectant of what I will learn, how much I will grow, and how much more I will be reminded of the Gospel."
"Resolved gets its name from a list of 70 resolutions that Jonathan Edwards, one of the most influential theologians in America, wrote at the young age of 19. From this list, Pastor Rick Holland of Grace Community Church organized this conference for college students and young adults. The very first Resolved was held in 2005 with sermons based on Edwards' list of resolutions. Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to attend Resolved with sermons based on Edwards' resolutions about Heaven and Hell. This year, the theme of Resolved is Sin, no doubt based on Edwards' resolutions about sin.
The conference had an amazing line-up of speakers, including Rick Holland, John MacArthur, Randy Alcorn (the author of "Heaven"), Steve Lawson, CJ Mahaney, and John Piper. I was so encouraged by the honesty of each of the speakers, and their dedication to delivering the full truth of the Word of God. Each sermon on Heaven left me yearning to go there, and each sermon on Hell not only scared me with the truth, but had me looking toward Christ and the hope that I have in Him.
This year, I can't wait to see how God will reveal Himself to me through this conference. I'm am expectant of what I will learn, how much I will grow, and how much more I will be reminded of the Gospel."
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Know Him Retreat Promo
Remember, this coming Sunday (2/22) is the last sunday to get the $100 retreat fee. Afterwards, it's going up to $115.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Taste of SALT
Written by Jae Yoo
Knowing God, his attributes his character, just some themes that the SALT team were discussing for this year’s retreat. With all Christians it seems that we know of Jesus what He did but we don’t really know who He is. For myself I’ve learned much about why we should obey and serve however the idea of who our Lord Savior really is a difficult concept to describe. In a world of tangibles discussing the abstract is difficult. For myself, in a world of deep issues that surround us learning about the who God is brings a proper perspective back into the craziness of the world. I know there are lots of good books regarding this subject. What we are hoping for from this retreat is an in depth analysis of Knowing who God really is. Having a more practical personality I’m really looking forward to this year’s retreat. I find it difficult to study these types of subject matters on my own and that’s why I’m really excited about our speaker and retreat. We are hoping that this retreat will address a lot of the things that the Prime ministry is hoping to see and hear. I’ve been encouraged especially recently by the Church addressing specific issues that folks may be struggling with. Whether it may be dealing with the economy or learning about God’s attributes relevant subject matters are always exciting to hear and study.
I hate to sound like an advertisement but I’ve always been the sort of person that needs to be encouraged (pushed) to attend functions. I’m hoping the majority of Prime folks are not like me and signup early. This is supposedly the year of change so I’m foreseeing that the this year’s retreat wont be the same as the previous ones. Even though its in the same location I’m sure there will be plenty of surprises.
Knowing God, his attributes his character, just some themes that the SALT team were discussing for this year’s retreat. With all Christians it seems that we know of Jesus what He did but we don’t really know who He is. For myself I’ve learned much about why we should obey and serve however the idea of who our Lord Savior really is a difficult concept to describe. In a world of tangibles discussing the abstract is difficult. For myself, in a world of deep issues that surround us learning about the who God is brings a proper perspective back into the craziness of the world. I know there are lots of good books regarding this subject. What we are hoping for from this retreat is an in depth analysis of Knowing who God really is. Having a more practical personality I’m really looking forward to this year’s retreat. I find it difficult to study these types of subject matters on my own and that’s why I’m really excited about our speaker and retreat. We are hoping that this retreat will address a lot of the things that the Prime ministry is hoping to see and hear. I’ve been encouraged especially recently by the Church addressing specific issues that folks may be struggling with. Whether it may be dealing with the economy or learning about God’s attributes relevant subject matters are always exciting to hear and study.
I hate to sound like an advertisement but I’ve always been the sort of person that needs to be encouraged (pushed) to attend functions. I’m hoping the majority of Prime folks are not like me and signup early. This is supposedly the year of change so I’m foreseeing that the this year’s retreat wont be the same as the previous ones. Even though its in the same location I’m sure there will be plenty of surprises.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Singled Out: A Single Adult Conference Coverage
Living Hope’s PR1ME Ministry hosted it’s first ever Single Adult Conference this past weekend. We had over 130 in attendance represented by 20+ churches. Thank you Living Hope for all your support and prayers. Here is the media coverage of the conference presented by KAC Media (www.kacmedia.com).
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