What can we do during this unprecedented time?

This year we wrestled with a number of terminologies to describe several painful, long-lasting experiences. One of these is the word unprecedented. We hear that we live in an unprecedented time, this means that you and I live in a time which has not been experienced before – by those who are living.

During this time all of us experience anxiety to different levels of intensity brought about by the Covid-19 virus. This virus brought so much suffering, isolation and uncertainty into our lives. Recently, this uncertainty has been intensified by experiences of brutality cause by racial injustice. This brutality has resulted in public anger and outcry all over the world because racial injustice exists all over the world not just in the US.

The anger has been intensified because people cannot see justice. The brutal culprits are not only unpunished but allowed to carry on inflicting physical, social and economic damages on others.

What do we do as Christians in this environment of anxiety, anger and uncertainty? After struggling over these events, there are three directions which we have the choice to take.

The first direction is upward. During the time of anxiety, we should look upward to God. To spend time with God by reading his word and to learn from God how we can comprehend, pray and respond to the painful situations. God’s words comfort us and guide us in the way we should go. For those who are non-Christian, may I suggest that you pick up a Bible and start reading the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. You will find insights and wisdom in the Bible that can help you today. When King David was running for his life, he shared how God helped him in Psalm 34 verses 4 to 7:

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.  Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

The second direction is outward. We look to God to help us. As God helps you work through your pain and anguish, perhaps you can use what you have learned through your experiences to emphasize with others and help them with their pains as well. Jesus himself taught us how to love and help others through his example, teaching and parables like the Good Samaritan. Right now, we hear a lot of stories of racial injustices. Yesterday morning, I heard the story of a black pastor who at the age of 17 discovered who killed his father when he was a kid. The killer ran a red light and was drunk and he was never punished. The pastor said if he were the person who was drunk and kill someone, he would probably still be in prison today.

Racial injustices exist everywhere. If you are listening to this podcast outside the United States, you are likely seeing racial injustice right where you are. In the book of Isaiah chapter 1 verse 7 we are instructed: “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” Everyone of us can do something whether it is donating money, time or work to help those suffering from the results of injustices. When we do that, we become better, stronger and more together as we emphasize with those around us by using the painful experiences that God and others had taught us to overcome.

The third direction is forward. Look beyond the current circumstances to the future. During the darkest and time of greatest suffering, the people who wrote the psalms, some of them were taken into exile. They were ridiculed and did not have any place to worship God. Their cry of despair was as bad as any in our times. In Psalm 42 verse 3 they cried:

My tears have been my food

But in the next psalm, Psalm 43 verses 3 to 5, they looked forward into the future and their outlook changed dramatically:

“Send out your light and your truth;

   let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy hill

   and to your dwelling!

Then I will go to the altar of God,

   to God my exceeding joy,

and I will praise you with the lyre,    

  O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

   and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

    my salvation and my God.

The hope in God and salvation –  that is the certainty of eternal life after this one - is enough to bring the mourners out of despair into the light with the intention to praise God – the source of exceeding joy.

So, brothers and sisters, and friends, in this unprecedent time, we can response in these three positive directions.

The first is upward, to deepen our understanding of the word of God and our relationship with Him and how these apply to our lives today.

The second is outward, how can we use the painful experiences that we have learned from, to emphasize with others to work and strive for justice.

The third is forward. The current circumstances will end. We have an amazing sure future as followers of Jesus Christ in the eternal life.

Praise and a positive impact on those around us depend on these three directions which we can make as an ongoing lifestyle - as the new normal.

As we move toward this new normal, may the Lord Bless you and watch over you and your family and keep you all safe. Amen.

We know that the gospel changes everything, but it’s often difficult to

Apostle Paul urges us to press forward in all circumstances.  Find out why it is important to press on in this short message from Pastor Bruce Wong.

Whom do you serve? This week we'll be continuing in our series on integrating faith and life and see what Jesus says about money. We'll be looking at Matthew 6:19-24 to see how we cannot serve both God and money. Presented by Pastor Chris Lee.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I want to share with you about the blessedness of forgiveness and of trust in God

Our peace is not based on external things, but comes from having a right

Matthew 22 states, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind..." Dr. Hans Wilhelm teaches us practical ways to apply this command to increase our focus on our Lord and Savior.

We are now into week 11 of Shelter in Place.  As our government tiptoes shakily toward reopening the economy, most of us continue to take shelter at home.  Even though more and more people are beginning to experience quarantine fatigue, most of us still feel unsafe to venture out because there are a significant number of new confirmed cases reported every day.  It seems that the novel Coronavirus is not going away anytime soon.  So we continue to watch anxiously as the economy is collapsing with many businesses closing down and the unemployment rate reaching record highs.  

In the midst of this uncertain time, I want to share with you a passage from the Gospel of John Chapter 20 verses 19-21 for your encouragement.  Let me read this passage.  

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 

In v19-20, it tells us that the disciples hid themselves in a locked room because they were afraid of the Jews.  Suddenly, Jesus appeared and stood among them. He said to them “Peace be with you”.  And He showed them His hands and His side so they would know that it was truly He without any doubt.  We can imagine the disciples’ great joy and comfort when they saw Jesus and heard Him speaking to them. 

Today like the disciples, we isolate ourselves at home because of the fear of Covid-19.  Many of us feel just as isolated and anxious as these disciples did.  But v19 reminds us that we are actually not alone even in our current isolation.  Our Lord Christ Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.  He speaks to us through His Word in the Bible.  He wants us to know and have His peace within us.  This is His promise, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”   You and I can overcome the fears and anxieties that the pandemic has triggered and that hang like dark clouds overhead because we know Jesus is with us and in Him we can have peace. 

And Jesus not only wants us to have peace and comfort in Him but He also wants us to bring His peace to other people.  In v21, He said to the disciples, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  He gave them a mission to reach out to others to proclaim the good news that He is risen and He gives life and peace to those who put their trust in Him.  Today, we are given the same mission to reach out to our friends, colleagues and neighbors to share the good news of Jesus so they can also experience the same peace in Him that we do.  He blesses us so we can bring blessing to others.

So, let’s not forget that we are not alone when we are taking shelter at home.  Jesus is with us and He is saying to you, “Peace be with you.”  And let’s not just keep this peace and good news only to ourselves.  I encourage you to share the good news with someone else so he or she can experience the same peace that you have in Jesus.  

May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Who says that religion and politics don't mix?  The Bible clearly says that they do, but perhaps in ways that you don't expect.  Come and join us on this study as we learn how Christians and politics go together.

This week, we look at Hebrews 10:19-23 to see how through Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, we can have confidence not only for this life, but also for eternity.

For many during this terrible pandemic, nothing seems to be out of reach of this virus. All of our securities are at risk: income, retirement, relationships, health, future plans, etc. But an opportunity for reflection and spiritual growth is also present. Psalm 121 probes our hearts with one question: “where does your help come from?” It challenges us to depend on God as our only and real help. We begin to cultivate a heart of dependence when we understand and experience God's watchful care, unparalleled power, and steadfast presence, from now and into eternity.