Finger Painting or Finger Pointing??

West LA Holiness Church's Sunday morning message from February 28, 2016:

The lesson from John 8 and the account of the woman taken in adultery.  

3 The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the centerof the court, 4 they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this,testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

What just happened here?

How is it that the crowd melts away?

What magic did Jesus perform here?

What did he do?

A glimpse

We are often hesitant to try something new or different because we don't know what to expect.  The anxiety over the unknown is a real thing.  This principle is especially true of missions service.  Not knowing what missions involves can make us reluctant to explore or stretch ourselves beyond what is comfortable and familiar.  

I recently received a copy of a video from a past JEMS team.  It provides a peek into their summer mission experience.  Take a moment to enjoy it.

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I survived

It took a bit of self-convincing on Saturday morning, but I made it out to the West LA Church retreat at the Oaks in Lancaster (Lake Hughes) this past weekend.  

It seems so strange after years of leaping headlong into strange and unknown travel and ministry environments in South America to struggle with a local trip to the mountains.    
I am grateful for the West LA church family for the encouragement and support that they have given me.  

It was also good to reconnect with JEMS co-worker, Kevin West.  It was my first opportunity to hear him speak as he serves in a different ministry field (Japan).  

A significant adjustment for me will be the transition from being active and independent to becoming less so with the limitation of medical requirements.  Pray for me that I don't lose the emotional and spiritual side of the battle.  Thanks. 

Seollal!

KPop group, GFriend (Yeoja Chingu) posing for Seollal in 
traditional Korean hanbok (chima jeogori)

Seollal!

North Americans and Japanese traditionally observe New Year's Day at the beginning of the calendar year.  Other cultures, such as the Korean, Chinese and other southeast Asians celebrate the Lunar New Year, which is today!  The word, "Seollal" 설날 in Hangul is the welcome greeting of the new year.  

The lunar observance has a long history in the Jewish culture as well.  The season that we approach just ahead with Passover (Jewish), Good Friday (Christian) and Easter (Christian) are all based on the lunar cycle.  Unlike the Asian calendar which marks the new year today, the Jewish calendar marks Rosh Hashanah as the beginning of the new calendar year.  This coincides with the new moon of the month of Tishrei and occurs usually in the fall (September usually, but sometimes in October).

In Brazil, they celebrate Carnaval this week and wrap up their festivities on Tuesday, heading into Lent on Ash Wednesday this week.  Those dates are also based on the lunar calendar.  

Culture and customs differ around the world. As we work to build bridges to other communities, it is vital that we understand our audience's world view and perspective if we are to communicate the good news of Jesus effectively.  This is not only the task of pastors, missionaries and ministries, but of every follower of Christ!

Stretching our Perspectives

Click photo to enlarge

(Reprinted from the JEMS Journal)
Our world can become too narrow. Too routine. Too predictable. 

There is no doubt that God has much more planned for us this coming summer than binge watching Netflix, updating Facebook and checking out that latest new KBBQ place on Western. But in order for us to discover that plan, it requires us to take active steps to explore opportunities that he provides.


Among the many opportunities to serve, to invest , to explore is a three-week commitment to serve cross-culturally with JEMS in South America. 

JEMS will be receiving applications for team ministry in Brazil or Paraguay from July 5 to 25, 2016. Deadline for applications is March 15th.


For specific information, contact Pastor John at the JEMS office or via email. 

Transitions

Pictured at the JEMS office with Pastor Brian Nakamura as we work together on the details of the pastoral transition in West Los Angeles. 

Pastor Brian was recommended and approved by the West LA Holiness Church Pastoral Search Committee and the Board of Deacons to serve as the incoming full-time pastor.  His new position was publicly announced to the congregation on Sunday, January 31, 2016 during the morning worship service.  With Pastor Brian assuming these responsibilities, Pastor John will return to ongoing ministry with JEMS.  Our prayers are with Pastor Brian as he assumes his new responsibilities.

The timetable for Pastor Brian's installation is still in flux pending his wife Emiko's professional situation as well as their move from San Diego to Los Angeles.  Pastor John's interim responsibilities with West LA Holiness will continue through the end of June 2016.  

* * * * *

The word has gone out and we await confirmation of mission opportunities for this coming summer.  At least five South American churches have requested JEMS teams and we hope to fulfill their requests.

PJ will be working to invite former JEMS alumni to consider serving as team leaders and resources in light of his own absence from the field this coming summer.  Please pray that we can find at least five who would be willing to lead mission teams in July.

Confronting our Blindness

Audio of the Sunday morning message at West LA Holiness Church, Sunday, January 31, 2016.  "Confronting our Blindness" by Pastor John.

Lessons from KDramas

I was watching a Korean drama recently called "Dating Agency: Cyrano."  It's an overall light-hearted comedy-drama.  But in the middle of the series is an exchange between the young owner of the agency and an elderly woman who is trying to arrange a romance for her friend, a nurse.  The rub is that the nurse is terminally ill and the thinking of the dating agency owner is that they shouldn't make arrangements for this relationship since it would likely end soon.

The screenshots are interesting:

The full dialogue is very insightful.

Young man:  Did you know that [the nurse's] health is not normal?

Older woman:  How is she not normal?

Older woman (continues to the young man):  You think that love is too much of a luxury for the people who are about to face their deaths?  People think that their lives are over once they are old or are terminally ill. They are just thought of as people who are waiting to die.  But no.  Our one day is just as good as everyone else's. What should I eat today?  What should I watch today?  Who shall I see today?  What's different is that we're fully aware of the fact that we are still alive.  

Older woman (to the nurse):  Wounds on your body are okay.  Wounds heal quickly.  Just don't hurt your heart.  You're not dead yet, are you?  Don't live like a dead person.  

I suppose that in the past, I would easily gloss over a scene like this.  People speaking of illness, love and death.  And yet as one gets older and faces the reality of diminishing health and the potential for loneliness, the dialogue seems to ring true.  

May we find encouragement in our friendships and in our faith.  May God grant hope and confidence to embrace each new day and new opportunity!  And as a practical outworking of these random musings, please pray for me as I begin dialysis treatment next month (February). 

A little plug

A shout out to my favorite KPop group, GFriend (Yeoja chingu) for the release of their new mini-album, "Snowflake."  The new song release is "Rough" and is featured in their music video.   Their first live comeback performance is also included below:




Their comeback stage:

In case you're curious about why I favor them, I became aware of this group in September 2015 when they performed live outdoors during a rainstorm in Seoul, South Korea.  In the course of the performance, various members of the group slipped and fell eight times!  And yet they picked themselves up to continue and complete the performance to the applause of the audience.  

It came to my attention via a Time Magazine article.  Time, which normally doesn't cover Kpop, was impressed by the "never say die, never give up" attitude of this group.

As someone who has experienced disappointment and failure in both my personal and professional life, this resonated with me.  So often times we can be tempted to give up and to never try again.  And yet, the message of the gospel is one of restoration and redemption.  We need to hear that message again and again.  

So congratulations to GFriend for picking themselves up off the ground and coming back in 2016 with a strong performance and a likely new hit!  

Strategic Planning 2016

Meetings are in full swing as the South America Department plans its 2016 mission campaign.  Among the areas of prayer and study are the possible formation of sports ministry teams for this year or next.  PJ is pictured here in a recent meeting with Pastor John Lee, our JEMS Sports Ministry Director.  

Pastor John and PJ traveled through São Paulo state together in 2015 to discuss ministry possibilities with local churches.  

The response was very positive overall.  It's my considered opinion that John may need to follow up with another visit to some key cities in southern Brazil, including Curitiba, Campo Grande, Londrina and Maringa.  These cities have large Nikkei populations and are sports centers for their communities.  Please pray as we consider the best timing for this visit by Pastor John Lee.