Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

Bach Nguyen

by Back Nguyen

Favorite Food: I love sushi, rare steak, beef ribs, pastrami burgers at Milton’s, fish sticks, corndogs, kalbi, soondooboo, dducbookee, sandwiches at The Cheese Shop, deep dish pizza, Vietnamese sandwiches, pho, har gow and shiu mai, tacos in Mexico, Costco free samples, hot wings, fried chicken, persimmons, almonds, apple juice, blue cheese, gummy bears, Cinnabon, French crepes, hashbrowns, eggs, peaches, crab legs, lobster, fried roc cod with sweet corn sauce, Sam Woo’s, and protein shakes.

Favorite Bible Character: My favorite bible character is Habakkuk. This short minor prophet book of three chapters describes the life of the prophet Habakkuk. The first chapter describes Habakkuk complaining to God as he questions God’s authority and sovereignty. He doubts the power of God as events surrounding his life seem to be unexplainable. This chapter continually reminds me of my life before surrendering to Christ and the first years of my immature Christian life. Much like Habakkuk, I found myself persistently complaining about various hardships and adversities in my life. I would doubt God’s sovereignty. I placed blame on God for the things that didn’t make sense to me, not believing or trusting in the plan that He would form in my life. Chapter Two describes God’s answer to Habakkuk. God presents His absolute sovereignty and brings the prophet into a humble submission to his god. Chapter Three is Habakkuk’s prayer to God. He confesses his weakness and his dependence on the Lord. He commits his life unto God regardless of any circumstance or scenario that might present itself troublesome. Despite times of trials and sufferings Habakkuk comes to the realization that all is nothingness when compared to the overwhelming faithfulness and sovereignty of God. Favorite verse: Habakkuk 3:17-19. It continually reminds me to place my hope in the faithfulness of God and take faith in His plan, His timing, and His design. He has planned my life before the foundations of the world so who am I to complain or protest when God has full sovereignty over my life.

Most Memorable Moment: My most memorable moment about college life has been the times with my class. I love the uniqueness of each person in my class that I have gotten the privilege to befriend. Such individuals include Randy’s infectious laughter, Jenn Lee’s continual vocalization, Ed Yip’s (and I use this term very loosely) humor, Ryan Chan’s faithfulness, Jen Shin’s unspoken service, and Mike Chung’s curly hair. We all met freshmen year in CCM and at Lighthouse and, over the course of the past four years, I can honestly say that I have grown a special bond with each one of these people. I have completely enjoyed all the times we’ve shared, even though the majority of those times seemed to be us arguing and fighting. Thanks for putting up with me. Keep loving me; I know it’s hard.

What Will You Miss Most: I will miss all the childish acts and immaturities that I got away with during my college years. I know it might surprise all of you but I did countless juvenile things over the course of my college life. From tearing off my shirt and sporting a Mexican wrestling match and running down the theatre halls during a showing of “Nacho Libre”, to eating a 17×17 burger at In’N’Out, I have enjoyed the various moments of craziness that college had to offer. However, it is time for me to grow up. It’s time to be a man.

What Are You Looking Forward To: I look forward to dominating singles group. Prepare yourselves for the chaos and commotion that will ensue the moment I enter into single life. I’m coming for you, Pastor John, and you can’t stop me.

Sarah Hu

by Sarah Hu

“Sarah, remember that God did not give you a spirit of timidity but of power, love and discipline.” That was the last thing my youth pastor told me the summer before I headed off to begin my freshmen year at UCSD. This reference to 2 Timothy 1:7 really struck a chord because I had always been categorized as “the shy one” or “the quiet one.” I was timid with my words and my actions, always being very cautious never to offend anyone or seem ignorant.

Freshman year started on the ultimate low. I lived off campus with two girls much older than I was. I rarely came into contact with freshmen outside of my classes, so I was left to check out churches and fellowships on my own. The first fellowship I checked out was AACF. I chose to stay there since checking out fellowships was too socially draining. The first quarter was extremely difficult. For days I would often go to class andcome back having not talked to anyone the entire time. Within AACF, I still had not found fellowship within the body, and because I did not know many people, I became inconsistent with church attendance. I was extremely frustrated. I couldn’t understand why God had called me to be at UCSD only to end up so miserable. By the end of fall quarter I had given up hope, becoming very introverted, hardly ever gaining the courage to go out to AACF or call for a ride to church. Very much in human form, realizing that I had nothing to hold on to or depend on, I turned to God. Even though my heart and my intentions for turning to Him were in desparation, God was ever so strong and gracious. The rest of the school year gradually got better. I was granted on campus housing for the quarter and pretty much began the entire college experience from that point. I admit that although I was getting more involved within AACF I was still struggling in finding a solid church where I could gain knowledge and cultivate my walk.

Near the end of my sophomore year my Bible study leader, Mel Cheng, invited me to check out Lighthouse Bible Church with her that Sunday. My first few months of coming out to Lighthouse that summer were pretty much cut and run. I timed it so I was just late enough to miss the awkward greeting times and run out as fast as I could after service. My introvertedness continued to hinder me from applying what I was being taught each Sunday. Once again God was gracious and continued to introduce loving people at Lighthouse into my life. So much so, that even during the very short times that I was there, I still felt the kindness and friendliness of church members. As time passed God began challenging me by reminding me of what my youth pastor had told me two years before. As I was growing in knowledge I could not hide behind my shell and still proclaim the Gospel to others. I realized that I could not sit back and always expect people to approach me all the time. God had given me His strength and His love so that I may use my time as a collegian to grow in Him, love others and prepare for a future that honors Him.

So many aspects of Lighthouse – the teaching, the people and the resulting actions of living Christcentered lives – have challenged me so much in the past two years. Being timid as a believer in Christ is NOT a quality that will bring much glory to God, encourage other members of the body or help me mature in the faith. Looking back at where I was, I’m so appreciative of the family that Lighthouse has provided through Flocks, small groups and now college life (thanks Peter and Jinny Lil, Eileen and Bev!!) and I am truly able to see the sovereignty of God in the past four years.

Favorite Food: Chipotle steak burrito bol with extra rice. Spicy too. Yum…

Favorite Verse: Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Christ is faithful to His divine character and will never stop being Lord and Savior to those who love him.

What is your most memorable moment in college: There have been lots of good moments – it’s too hard to choose. Sorry that’s not a juicy answer.

What will you miss most about college: Free time at random hours of the day

What do you look forward to the most about graduate life: Maybe joining the singles ministry.

Becky Areekul

by Becky Areekul

If I had to give a testimony of God’s faithfulness to me during my college years, it would definitely be Lighthouse Bible Church. For me to proceed any further I believe it would be best if I explain a little about my background. I come from a non-Christian family. Not only were they unbelievers, but they were Buddhists worshipping spirits and inanimate objects. So I was raised with familiarity to these things. But if this was the extent of what I was exposed to, I think that I would not have experience God’s faithfulness through Lighthouse in the ways that I did. Because I come from an unregenerate family and a futile religion, I grew up witnessing infidelity, vengeance, wrath, and debauchery of all kinds. There was nothing conventional about my family circumstances. In order for any person to emerge from these circumstances and still be functional, one would need to be either calloused or hopeless. I became both. In His great mercy, the Lord saved me during my freshman year of high school. After I came to know God, it felt as if I was emancipated from that darkened lifestyle. Emancipated, but yet marred, I was still hopeless, not in God but in man and myself. To me there was no such thing as a faithful family, no such thing as a faithful husband, faithful wife, faithful friend, or a faithful pastor. Why? Because my past experiences still told me that no person, including myself, can be faithful to anything or anyone.

But upon coming to Lighthouse and having the privilege to be part of the family, I witnessed faithfulness for the first time in my life. And that faithfulness was first, and foremost, to God. I witnessed a people running hard, laboring to the point of exhaustion for God and His people. I witnessed a people rightfully serving a King whom they professed to be worthy—the Lord of Lords. I witnessed faithful families and faithful people; not because they were perfect, but because they yearn and strive to live for the God that has saved them from condemnation and adopted them to be His children. This chipped away the callouses surrounding my heart and instilled new hope in me. Now I see more clearly and understand that it is absolutely possible to live according to His righteousness and to be a faithful person through Christ who strengthens us.

Thank you pastors, elders and the faithful women of this church. You all have been God’s instruments and part of His faithfulness to me through my time in college. God used all of you to show a broken, marred, and hopeless girl what it is to be a child of God, to have hope again in God and in each other— both now and in the life to come. I am beginning to understand why God places so much emphasis on the nuclear family. I’ve always heard that a family faithful to God and His design is one of the greatest testimonies we can have for His Kingdom, but never understood why until now. These testimonies that I’ve witnessed in our church have given me hope, strength and peace. Thank you, Pastor John, for laboring so hard as our shepherd. Out of all the people I read and hear (Macarthur, Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, etc.) I’m most excited to hear from you every Sunday. Thank you, Angela, for personally showing me the significance of faithfully executing the role of a wife and mother and how that makes a direct impact on the Kingdom of God. And thank you, Lighthouse family, for spurring me on to laboring to the point of exhaustion for our great King for He is worthy.

Favorite Food: Korean, Japanese, Thai

What is your favorite Bible verse, and why: Psalm 16:5. It reminds me that ALL I have, whether circumstances or materials things, are all from the Lord.

What is your most memorable moment in college: When I reconciled with Jenn Lee, late night studying Mammalian Physiology with Anna Jung Kim.

What will you miss most about college: Flexibility with time.

What do you look forward to the most about graduate life: Moving on to the next stage of life and enjoying Gods will in that season.

To the Class of 2007

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Honestly, it is with mixed feelings that the college ministry celebrates another graduating class. Of course we are proud of the students who have worked hard for the past four years to come to this crowning moment of their education. We are happy for the families that get to see their sons and daughters walk across the university stage to receive their wellearned diplomas. But it is bittersweet to have this group of graduates move out of College Life and into the singles ministry. Of course, one of the great joys of being part of a church family is that they are not all necessarily gone — it just means they will be meeting at a different location on Friday nights. But with the memories that we have been able to share through their college careers, it will be sad to see them move on. No one will forget the time Bach Nguyen brought a live crab to our college Christmas gift exchange because the theme was to bring something edible. Or who could forget Jennifer Lee’s, “many yackle” pronunciation of “maniacal”? These memories and many more will live on through the years in College Life.

A few weeks ago, we had the collegians over at Jin and Grace Lee’s house for our annual senior breakfast. It was a sweet time of fellowship as the staff prepared a delicious meal. Seeing as this was probably going to be my last opportunity to address the seniors as a group before they graduated, I thought about what I wanted to encourage them with in order to prepare them best spiritually for life after college. The theme for the year at LBC being “Building the Body,” I turned to Ephesians 4. There Paul speaks about how the body would be built up as pastors and teachers equip the saints for the work of ministry, and that the end result would be that the body would grow into the fullness of Christ (vs. 11-13). But I directed their attention to the following context where Paul instructs the church as to how this building up would be accomplished. Instead of being tossed here and there by waves and every wind of doctrine, the growth in Christ was to be accomplished by speaking the truth in love. What better word could I give the seniors to prepare them for graduation besides this?

I encouraged the graduates to maintain a high, uncompromising commitment to the truth of God’s Word. This is vital in the “real world” because there are so many external forces (many that are more intense than those in college) that tempt us to compromise. Some of these forces are blatant, while others are much more subtle. In the work environment, there are new sorts of tests that come into a person’s life. Most, if not all, of the seniors have never had a full-time salary, and as single adults, a great test will come with how they choose to use what God has entrusted to them. For others, there will be the arduous task of job hunting where they will be told to embellish their resumes and lie in their interviews. These individuals will soon be making life-affecting choices such as where they will settle down and whom they will marry. These significant decisions, if not governed by the clear principles in God’s Word, can be made, even subtly, by selfish ambition and sinful motives. It is imperative that as gra uates, they adhere to an uncompromising commitment to God’s truth and seek to grow in respect to that as they practically live out its principles.

I would encourage the church to get to know these graduates. They are a remarkable group, and the amount they have grown these past four years has been tremendous. I count it an extreme privilege and blessing to have shepherded these individuals and watched them progress in faith. Many of them have endured some already trying times, and I am sure they will face many more equally difficult trials. They will need our support and prayers through this significant time of transition. Praise God for the love and support of the church family here at Lighthouse where college group is not an isolated bubble! It is exciting to think these seniors will be joining Single Life and will be sitting under the tutelage of that amazing staff. Even as a few of these collegians move away after graduation, it is comforting to know from the pattern of their lives that they will eventually settle in churches where they can grow, serve, and continue to show their devotion to the truth of God’s Word.

To the graduates: the college staff loves you and is sad to see you leave College Life, but we are encouraged because you have shown a strong desire for God’s Word and have demonstrated from your lives constant growth. May the Lord cause you to walk together in faith so that you mature as individuals even more into the fullness of Christ our head.

The Grace of God Magnified

by Pastor Patrick Cho

I was reading through John 1 last night before going to bed and it was such an encouragement to me. It’s not always like this, but there are times when reading from the Word is like having a tall, cold glass of ice water on a hot summer day. The refreshment from reading the Bible last night was like that. The verse that arrested me was John 1:16, “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” The fullness is probably referring back to vs. 14, “…and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” As Christ is full of grace and truth, we reap the full benefit of it — kai charin anti charitos, “and grace upon grace.” The anti, preposition was used in that day to describe exchanges made in sale purchases. The thought is that in exchange for grace we receive more grace! What an amazing statement of the abundant grace of God! This is particularly amazing in consideration of my own sinfulness. I don’t give God a reason to shower grace on me. It is completely in spite of my failures that He is gracious! Even as an unbeliever, He showed me the common grace that He gives to all men (e.g. good health, education, family, friends, food, etc.). But now as a believer, I have exchanged that common grace for even greater grace in Jesus Christ. There is unending blessing in living for the Lord. Truly as the psalmist writes, with the Lord as my shepherd “my cup overflows” (Ps. 23:5).

Rejoicing and Weeping

by Pastor John Kim

As we discussed Romans 12:15 this past Sunday, one thing that came to mind is that if a church really does practice this principle of rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep, it would really be an indication of a true family like relationship in that when you have a close-knit family, you really do see this happen.

When my wife Angela succeeds at something or accomplishes something significant, I really am truly happy for her and with her. I remember when she was pregnant with Jenna and just about finished with her Master’s thesis that she gave birth and so she had to delay the conclusion a bit. When she did, I was just amazed at how she was able to do that with having a baby at the same time. I remember when Jenna started taking her first steps and saying her first words – those were just incredible days being able to share in the thrill of her joy. I remember when Kara scored her first goal in soccer – I was so proud of her, especially after the fact that when she had first started she would barely move. I remember when Alyssa did her first ballet performance in the Nutcracker – she was so excited and while admittedly I am not a big ballet fan, I am a big fan of Alyssa and was excited with her. Even with Olivia, when she gets excited about something, she gets even more excited when I get excited with her. Just playing with her is that way.

I also remember when Angela’s dad passed away recently – it hurt to see Angela cry and there wasn’t much else I could do than to cry with her. I remember seeing my girls cry at the funeral – it was their first significant loss that they had experienced and all I could do was hold them. I remember when my brother-in-law Peter was going in for surgery for the tumor in his lower back and seeing Jinny cry and I couldn’t help but cry as well.

I have also been reminded of many who have rejoiced with me in times of blessing. It is actually quite amazing to think that there are people who would take the time to celebrate things in my life when I really don’t consider my life so significant. But people have been incredibly generous and overwhelming in their love and care that I can only see the grace of God being what lies behind their actions.

As I shared this past Sunday, it many ways it is very difficult and challenging to rejoice with others because it often causes us to be tempted with envy and jealousy. It is difficult not only to watch people get engaged, get married, have children, purchase a new car, move into a new home, or have the latest and most up to date laptop or mobile phone, but to be content with what we do have and just be happy for people.

I would encourage you to really consider the application that was given on Sunday. Prepare to celebrate with someone – there are graduations coming up, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions that come up in people’s lives that you can use as an opportunity to rejoice with them. If you already know of some special occasions coming up, plan for it now. We often get tired of going to graduations or weddings or bridal showers or baby showers because we’ve been to so many and they don’t seem special any more. But we have to remember that it is special for THAT individual and it would be selfish of me to simply think that “I’m tired of these things” when in fact it’s not for your sake but for that individual’s joy. Sure, it might be hard to be fully excited for someone else but then again it is a choice – you can and should consider how you might rejoice with others.

Also be prepared to weep with someone. When someone is going through a hard time and they have been hurt, be prepared just to listen, to give a shoulder to cry on, to have a heart instead of just trying to fix their problems. Sometimes the most significant thing you can do is just come alongside and really try to empathize with someone. You might not necessarily have to cry real tears but do you seek to even try to understand a little bit of the pain that someone is going through? It can really make a difference. It has for me. Just having my wife listen to me let out my pain and instead of an immediate rebuke or cold statement of fact, just holding me and letting me cry is probably the most loving thing she has done.

Let’s really grow as a family and rejoice and weep with each other.

The Crystal Clear Truth About Marriage

by Pastor John Kim

This past Saturday we had Chris and Nelly’s wedding at the Crystal Cathedral, home of the self-esteem “gospel” and the “Hour of Power” sermons that have been on TV for as long as I can remember (though I don’t have any TV connection now so I might be outdated). The people there were very nice, in fact, were very helpful and even funny. The church was not as big as I thought it would be but the inside had an impressive Sony jumbotron and it really was a big glass castle like I thought it would be. The men’s restroom was equally impressive, especially now after looking at blueprints for restrooms in consideration of our new facilities. I would have to say it was easily the most impressive wedding site I’ve presided over, with the dramatic rising of the sidewalls (though I didn’t see it) and the fountain shooting high at the entry of the bride.

I was a little nervous as I anticipated the handoff from Pastor Bob as he was doing the introduction. I had written my notes word-for-word (if you didn’t notice) because I often get nervous at weddings and don’t want to just ramble. I also was told that we had to get everything done in 30 minutes, so there was a real time constraint that put a considerable amount of pressure. There is always one thing that I do try these days at weddings and that is to make sure that the gospel message is somehow integrated. With the passage from Ephesians 5:22-33, it was an easy transition to make since being married is all about glorifying Jesus Christ and to point people to the Savior at a wedding only makes sense since a Christian wedding is exactly about making Christ the focal point.

But it’s one thing to think about how those who are of a different theological persuasion might think. In studying 1 John, the one thing that has been sticking out to me is how important it is to be discerning for the purpose of honoring Jesus, not just to win a debate. It’s even more than being able to point out false teaching – it’s about pointing to the One who is the authoritative teacher of truth as He is the Truth.

Getting married is more than just about a man and a woman getting together. It is about a man and a woman getting together so that Jesus Christ would be magnified in their lives being together as a reflection of the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church. This really changes everything. It should remind the man that he is to love his wife like Christ loves the church. This is not just some cheap sappy love leeched off of movie scenes. This is about true, sacrificial love that seeks to sanctify and nurture and cherish someone day in and day out, regardless of the circumstances that might come. It is to look at Christ and in Him see the ultimate model of true love (not Princess Bride). For the woman it is to submit to her husband in a loving and respectful way that the church is to do before Christ. Admittedly this is not anywhere near what the world would see as desirable but because of Christ, it is not only the most profitable, it is the most glorifying to Christ. It is here that we must really ask ourselves if we really believe this to be true. Do we really value Christ so much that all things are done in reference to Him? Or do we still look, however subtly, for some kind of self-gratification at the expense of Christ receiving the firstfruits of our heart?

In anticipation of our DTR2 series which should come this fall, I want to remind those of you who read this (all 5 of you) to really think carefully about how you view marriage. I believe that there are too many people who still have worldly worldview when it comes to marriage and even though you might acknowledge what the Bible has to say, when it comes to the actual planning of a wedding and the preparation for a life time, there are sadly many who are still so very far away from having Jesus be Lord over their life in the practical things of life. While we might say that we adhere to true Biblical teaching, many people’s lives would contradict that if examined carefully.

It is definitely one thing to combat false teaching with the truth of God’s Word. It is another thing to confirm the preciousness of God’s truth by abiding in it. Whether in marriage, whether in the work place, whether in friendships, whether in the local church, as believers we are called to make Christ the crown jewel which shines brightly for all the world to see.

This is the crystal clear truth. Don’t look to a crystal buildling. Look to the precious treasure of Jesus Christ.

Christ Will Build Lighthouse

by Pastor John Kim

Jesus said He would build His church (Matthew 16:18) and this is actually a statement that I find great comfort in, especially at the moment. I think there are definitely times where church life can be great and other times when it can be somewhat discouraging. For those who have the calling to serve as pastors, life can sometimes be quite a rollercoaster ride when you take the various turns and bends that come with the development of a church. There can be times where church life gets a bit stale and mundane, which probably tends to be the majority of the time. There are also times of excitement and enthusiasm where for some reason (which maybe only God may know), there is a swelling of desire for the things of God and the members of the church display a fervency to live for God’s glory. Then there are times when it feels like there are some slow rolling waves of discouragement, usually crested with some criticism by those who seem compelled to emphasize the negative element, which in reality is always something that is there, but again, for some reason or another, is brought to the forefront by those who might have nothing better to do.

Over the past twenty years of formal ministry, you would think that I would be used to the patterns of ministry, the flow and ebb of the tide that would seem to be expected. But it still gets to me. All of it. The high points are really high points! I get excited and thrilled when people exercise a bit more enthusiasm for the things of God. The low points often take the wind out of my sails and I easily get so discouraged, many times to the point of just wanting to quit ministry. Then there are the typical days where it just seems like business. This wears at me like the slow steady dripping of a faucet. The slow but increasing degree of irritation starts to set in my bones to the point where I go crazy and I can’t help but get carried away with dreams of going somewhere where the ministry is more exciting and where people are hungry for the Word and want to make a difference in their communities. Then I wake up and realize that it probably is no different anywhere else.

This might almost sound like a depressing article to read but I share these thoughts so that you know what goes on in the heart and mind of your pastor. There is a subtlety in being a pastor where I get to the point where I actually think it is up to me to make something happen at Lighthouse. I think that my sermons might stir people to action, or maybe a new program will generate greater desire to be involved. I pursue strategies to see if we can more effectively help the various groups within the church or to incite a heart for the lost in our community. And sometimes it seems like it works. But in looking back, it is foolish to think that the mere attempts of a human being could manipulate the hands of Chrisvt. Christ is head of the church and He is the final authority over all that takes place in His church. It is in His place alone whether a church might grow or not and our Savior is not capricious or whimsical in His fancies. The glory of God is at stake and this glory is to be jealously guarded. God is not in the business of sharing His glory with others and when those in the church try to wrest it away, it is only the beginning of a slow and steady decline into becoming an “Ichabod” church, where the glory of God has departed. Oh there might be activity and even a lot of people, but it doesn’t mean God’s glory is there.

Christ must be recognized as the head of Lighthouse Bible Church by all who are members as well as all who attend. He is the Chief Shepherd and as an under-shepherd, I am simply tasked to obey Christ by fulfilling what the Scriptures call me to do – to preach the Word (2 Timothy 2:2), to shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3), to equip the saints for the work of service (Ephesians 4:11-13), to guard the flock from savage wolves (Act 20:28-30), to keep watch over your souls (Hebrews 13:17), and to have charge over you and to give instruction (1Thessalonians 5:12). This can only be done through the empowering of the Holy Spirit and I ask for your prayers that I, along with the rest of the pastoral staff, would humbly submit ourselves daily to the Spirit’s leading over our lives so that we might be faithful shepherds who obey the Chief Shepherd’s mandate to lead you to His glory. It is my hope that our desire as a church would not be to find approval in the world’s eyes but that we would see our chief end to corporately proclaim and present the glory of God to a dark and lost world, to see the name of Christ proclaimed boldly and fearlessly, to share the hope that we have within us with gentleness and reverence, all that God may be pleased.

Christ will build His church, even despite our failures and our shortcomings. Let us be a church that reflects our Savior’s hands at work always.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness to us these past eight years. We look forward, by your mercies, to see many more years ahead in serving you.

The Story Our Culture Needs

by Tim Sohn

Every Monday night at 9pm I end up with a dilemma. Do I record Heroes on NBC, or 24 on Fox? Tuesday nights are American Idol. Wednesday nights feature the results of the votes for the previous days American Idol. Thursday is NBC’s Must See TV where all of America enjoys seeing awkwardness to the extreme in The Office. I never seem to know what’s on Friday nights because ever since ABC’s old school TGIF lineup went down the drain (and I started going to church) I stopped paying attention. In a world that is incredibly saturated by the media, it’s easy to simply come home plop on the couch and absorb everything the tube has to offer. As Christians we are called to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2)”, which means that the way we view the media, entertainment, and our culture needs to be from a biblically-based worldview. A worldview is a set of beliefs so basic, that everything else is seen through that grid. In a nutshell, this means seeing the world as corrupt, trying to alleviate its prob lems through moralistic means, and in need of the Gospel of Grace. As Christians, we need to express discernment as we look at the culture around us and understand what ideas fall in line with biblical teaching, and what does not. In fact, a TV show that expresses a world that is messed up, sinful, and in desperate need of restoration is more biblical than some moralistic “be a good person” messages that we hear from some Christian mediums. The media often shares a message, attempts to ask and provide answers to questions that affect the human soul. In essence, a story is being told. Often these stories reflect a world that longs for Jesus. Our aim in expressing discernment is so that we can understand the culture around us, and use the stories that are told through movies, TV shows, and music to share the most magnificent story of a King coming to save and redeem His people.

Many of the themes we see in our culture that attract us are related to redemption, finding identity, or discovering significance. When we see characters fail, but triumph in the end, we are elated that redemption has occurred. We often find superheroes discovering their abilities through some stage of adolescence, and struggling to find their identity with everyone else in the world. Only when they begin to discover others like them, such as in the X-men saga, do they feel a sense of belonging and community. In the recent hit show, Heroes, each of the individual heroes is trying to find their significance in the greater story of saving the world. The questions they ask are “how do I fit in?” and “what should I use my powers for?” I believe that we are attracted to these types of stories, because all of us in some way identify with them and want to experience them indirectly. The questions that many characters ask in superhero stories are the same ones that we ask. Who am I? Why am I here? In superhero stories we always see someone who is trying to “save the world” and restore order. Superheroes fight crime, combat injustice, and protect the weak. In many ways, these stories reflect a culture longing for things to be made right, and for sin in people’s hearts to be eradicated. What our culture reflects in these stories is a longing for a world that is peaceful and happy; a world that is joyful and where life is enjoyable.

The truth that our world longs for and needs is Jesus. Jesus is the only one in whom we find the real story of redemption. A story about God Himself, condescending to earth to restore the brokenness in our world. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross we can be first and foremost reconciled to God, and also reconciled to each other to the world around us. In Jesus we can find our true identity as His child, and a community of people who He calls His own. Only through Jesus can we find true significance and labor for something greater than ourselves, the expansion of God’s kingdom throughout the world. Every story that our culture tells through the media always finds a solution that isn’t quite big enough. Our minds are fascinated, our hearts are captivated, but the world that is displayed isn’t real. Yet, we want it to be. There is always a way to take a story, understand the themes and questions that are being asked, and show how the real answer to the story about humans is found in Jesus. In Jesus we find the God that we really crave, and the God that we really need. He is the only one that can make the world right, and deal with the problems that we see in us.

Book Review: The Life of George Whitefield (Two Volumes)

Book by Arnold Dallimore

Review by Pastor John Kim

Dr. Steve Lawson presented the life of George Whitefield at the Shepherds Conference last year (2006) and I was just blown away by the life of this faithful vessel that God used to impact lives on both sides of the Atlantic in a way that just seems impossible to explain apart from the grace of God revealed through this man. I remember my brother and I running out of the seminar and picking up two of the last copies available at the conference bookstore. I started reading with an initial surge of excitement, only to get bogged down over the course of the year. After forgetting where I left off and having to restart the book at the beginning of the year, I finished both volumes in about two months. I’m sure some of you might remember a few quotes that I gave during sermons as I was duly impressed by the commitment and devotion of Whitefield to the Lord. He literally gave his body and soul to the point where he exhausted himself for the sake of the kingdom. His sermons were not just fanciful lectures but heartfelt pleas for sinners to repent and turn to Christ. He challenged the churches of his day to be stirred from their complacency and to be light and salt to all those around them, especially the destitute. He had a heart for orphans, starting an orphanage in Georgia which had a lasting impact in many lives. Whitefield was instrumental in the establishment of a number of universities which still are significantly established to this day, including Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Dartmouth. His range of ministry knew no bounds. He could speak to royalty one evening and then go to the poor colliers who were covered with coal dust and had nothing but pennies to give in their support. The account of his death moved me to tears as his body was racked with pain but soon gave way to his going to glory.

Biographies of those who have walked before us can inspire us and challenge us to look at our own lives and see if we are truly living our lives as holy sacrifices to God. I believe that too many of us think that those like George Whitefield were meant to be exceptions to the rule, almost fanatical in their faith. This is an unfortunate misconception. We need more Whitefields, especially men who would commit themselves to serve God wholeheartedly and unreservedly for the sake of His kingdom. I would recommend the reading of biographies of such men and women, especially this masterpiece by Dallimore ,which should stir your heart to pursue Christ with more fervency.