Lack of love towards the youth in the church today equals lack of love from future Young Adults towards the church tomorrow.

I don’t want to get too personal with this post so I’ll try my best.  I am not calling any specific church out in general, but just giving a personal opinion on what I see being done especially in the Korean church today.  And let me tell you, it is a scary thing.

The million dollar question I hear most often at church is, “where are the Young Adults?”

A question that has been puzzling pastors for years now, none

seem to have the right answer.  But I challenge those very same churches and ask them, “where were you when they were youth?”

Now being only 20 years old, some may call me naive.  Some may even say that I have no idea what I am talking about.  But being now a Youth Director, youth leader, and a Young Adult by trait, I see whats going on.  The youth has been for decades now taking the back seat in ministry.  If your kids come to church then you are doing “good parenting”.  If kids show up and eat your food and bow to your elders, you have a BLOOMING Youth Ministry.  If you have two retreats a year for your Youth Ministry then you have a SPIRIT FILLED MINISTRY!

Really……?

Growing up in high school and in faith, I loved Timothy.  I was striving to become this radical Christian and read a lot of Timothy to help encourage me.  Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” was probably my go to verse.

But how are the kids supposed to set an example to anyone, when they are being taught that they don’t really know the meaning of the words “life, love, faith and purity“?  If kids are looked down at so much that adults have this mentality that kids have no idea what it even means to walk a life with Christ.

Now back to the million dollar question, where are the Young Adults?!

Well I’ll tell you where they are at.  They are in the world discovering the meaning of those very words.  Finding life, love, faith, and their version of purity from outside of the walls of the church.  That not only did they not learn the try meaning of those words when they were youth, but did not see that example being set for them.  And its a very scary thing.

I myself want to and feel called to become a full time minister one day, but I beg you.  I beg you future “senior pastors” not to use the Youth or English Ministry in the Korean church as a stepping stone to where you are going.  Sure, that is reality for a lot of cases, but don’t treat it like that.  Tens and Thousands of Young adults in America and Korea are no longer going to church anymore because they don’t want to be stepped on anymore.

Jesus had a special interest and heart for the young believers in faith when He walked this earth.  Condemning people who looked down on them.

ESPN 1420

Just a quick update on my new job status.  (I am still a Youth Director for Aiea Korean United Methodist Church)

I am now a Sound Board Operator for ESPN 1420.

This is an awesome chance to work with awesome people who love sports! comonnn mannn.  My job basically entails me running the sound board for radio shows, screening calls, and producing the show.

Here is a little pic of what my workspace looks like:

So if you guys are listening to the show and want to call in, feel free!  I will also do a once a week post on the life of an ESPN Radio worker. Joseph Yoo will hold me to it.

In the mean time, follow me on twitter! (an advice given to me to get more twitter famous)  @daedaejr

So say we all,

Dae

ps. I am currently accepting nicknames for my Radio Name.  Thanks!

God help me

So I had a dream two nights ago and I’m going to try my best to explain what I think it meant.  It was kind of a freaky dream, but bear with me.

 

So I had a dream that I was in front God almighty himself.  I knew something was wrong with me so I turned to him and asked him to help me.  All I remember was that he answered me right away and said ok.  At that moment, he took two demons out of me and I felt so light.  I then began to go into a state of “kawi”.  For those of you who know what that is, its not fun.

I remember waking up feeling so tired but so scared at the same time so I went back to sleep.  In the morning, I began trying to analyze what the dream meant.  The most important part of the dream I felt was that God helped me right away.  Something so big to our eyes as two demons, but God still helped me right away.

I think this is a valid lesson for myself and to others.  That God is a God on his own perfect timing, but God does want to help us right away.  We think that just because God isn’t working the way we think is best, that he hasn’t begun to help at all.  But that’s not true, the moment we ask him for help is the moment he has begun to work.

A small reminder for us to become better servants, as God is the best servant.  (Take that with a grain of salt.)

Maybe the dream meant more, but until I figure it out, I will continue to go to God with all of my burdens.  For he is the provider.

 

 

So say we all,

Dae

Ron Artis Family Band

Here is an exclusive interview and private show from the Ron Artis Family Band.  I got to interview the lead band member, Ron Artis II, and ask him some personal questions about his family band and their drive to do it.  This video was completely shot in their studio located in Hale’iwa, Oahu.

The Artis Family Band proclaims their faith in Jesus and makes a point to display their gifts from God.

Guest Post by: Reverend Joseph Yoo

Joseph Yoo is pastor of youth and spiritual formation at Valencia United Methodist Church in Valencia, CA. 

He has been in Ministry for about 6 years and his blog is often features on sites like Ministry Matters,

and the front page of the Methodist home page.  He has kindly volunteered to do a guest post on my blog.  Enjoy!

Tebow-mania seems to grow larger and larger and not only are there more people jumping on the Tebow band wagon, but there also seems to be more and more Tebow apologists.

But seriously, let’s give credit where credit is due. Tebow is doing a lot for his team. But the Bronco’s defense has stepped up. And, we have to seriously consider John Fox as a real coach of the year contender.

Unfortunately for me, I’m a Redskins fan. There has been real high moments (like starting 3-1) and moments where I wish I didn’t like the Redskins (how about having Rex Grossman and John Beck competing to be the starting quarterback?)

What’s been apparent (at least for me) in the Shanahan² era (Kyle Shanahan, the Son, is the offensive coordinator) is that it’s Shanahan’s way or the highway. This was in full display last season when Shanahan refused to utilized the most ridiculously over-paid player in football, Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth didn’t want to play the new defensive system, Coach Shanahan basically said, “Fine, you won’t play at all.” Not only that, Shanahan inherited a great defense that didn’t need a complete overhaul. Yet, he made it clear that this was the way the Redskins will play. Even at the cost of great players relearning a brand new system.

This season, instead of drafting a quarterback (we could have drafted Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder, or Andy Dalton) I guess Shanahan thought he might have the coaching power of making something out of Rex or John Beck. We’re 4-8 so far. Mike Shanahan never was shut out in his NFL career as a coach (both head and assistant). That happened this year against the Bills in a 23-0 loss. Shanahan has never finished under a 6-10 record, and it’s not looking good.

Why am I talking about this?
Shanahan is stubborn in his ways, even if it’s a detriment to the team.
But look at John Fox.
John Fox was 1-4 with Kyle Orton. Maybe it was to see what he had in Tebow, or maybe it was to show the fans that Tebow isn’t what they want him to be… whatever the reasons, he named Tebow the starting quarterback.

Then he did something that Shanahan has never done. He saw the things Tebow was good at, and reworked his entire offensive game plan and offensive system to cater to Tebow’s strengths and abilities. Even if that meant that he implemented a complete college game system for a professional team. In a win against the Chiefs, Tebow threw 8 times. 8 times! And only completed 2 passes! What NFL quarterback has ever had that low of a stat in the passing game? But it worked. It’s working.

I think it is admirable to be confident in your abilities and in your vision. But you can’t be too stubborn if it’s not working. Something is not clicking in the Shanahan era with the Redskins.
I don’t think John Fox completely threw out his coaching philosophy out the window. Instead, he decided to work with what he had. He didn’t wait for Tebow to be the quarterback he needed Tebow to be (something Shanahan would’ve done) but saw the player Tebow was and helped Tebow be successful.

Sometimes, what makes a great leader is swallowing his pride and going with what works. You can be the ‘my way or the highway’ type of leader that is stubborn and sticks to her guns. But, what’s a leader if s/he has no followers?

I think we need to really assess what we have and build from there rather than try to implement what we think will work and expect everyone to fall into place.

A strong leader isn’t always the one who was able to implement his way or get things the way she wanted it done. But someone who takes what is given to her, able to set people up to be successful based on their talents, and gets everyone to buy into and believe in the vision, that is a true and strong leader.

Rev. Joseph Yoo

Valencia UMC

25718 McBean Pkwy

Valencia, CA 91355

661.255.1301

 

one of the better videos I have seen in a while. Post to follow up

My father’s ministry

And the blogging begins again. I just got an ipad2 from best buy and downloaded the wordpress app, no more excuses. Since this is still the first couple of days of me using the iPad, my typing skills are a bit rusty. The people around me (I’m sitting in class) are probably laughing at all of my mistakes. I know I could have used this money for other things, but I know God can use my new toy In different ways, or I keep telling myself that.

Right to the point of post I have to once again thank Jesus for what he has done for my family. I mean every single one of them. It all started with a prayer and releasing them to the Lord, trusting him with them, and the impossible turned possible.

My dad went through the biggest transformation. He went from someone who has never been to church, to someone who studies the word of God more than anyone I know personally. I always wondered what sparked this change, what made him flip around this lifestyle. Majority of course is the power of the Holy spirit, but I found a little about what has been now placed on his heart.

My dad is a half Korean, half african America can man. He was born and raised in korea for the first 25 years of his life. Korea in the 60′s and 70′s did not have a lot of mixed races. My dad actually never knew anyone else that was not full Korean growing up. So he experienced a lot of racism. He grew up thinking he was always alone and never accepted. That if there was a God, he wouldn’t allow one of his children to grow up in this kind of environment, without a father, without an identity. But when my dad found Christ, his perspective on life totally changed.

For those of you who know my dad, know that he is a really good public speaker. One on one, and in front of big crowds. And one of the things God has called him to do with that gift is to reach out to people who don’t quite feel like they belong. People who have been castes out of their community and shunned away from the “majority”. Reach out to the David’s in the world.

My dad looked at me and told me God had a plan all along. That God used 25 years I was in korea for a reason, so that now I can relate and reach out to the lost and broken. That this fire inside of me that is making me study the word all day is because he wants me to catch up. That I’m starting at the age of 50, but it’s ok because Moses started at the age of 80.

This vision has bee on my dad’s heart for a while, but a customer that came into his shop this past week helped confirmed this calling. It was a middle aged korean lady that has two kids, both half Korean and half black. She hasn’t been to church for years, because the church looked at her kids weird. She had to constantly pay 300 dollars to straighten her daughters hair because it was curly. Keep them out of the sun so they wouldn’t too dark. She had to raise her kids without her husband because he walked out shortly after they were born. She thought no one understood her, until she met my dad. I’m not gonna go into detail about their conversation, but she felt a genuine care and understanding, for the first time in her Life from someone who was trying to follow God. My dad felt a conviction from god that this is what God is calling him to do. Reach out to the forgotten, the unaccepted. And is a beautiful thing.

This is something we should all be doing. My dad taught me that we should never forget about the people who has been castes away from the majority. That this is what Jesus aimed his ministry towards. We don’t have to be Goliath’s in this broken world, just David’s with God on our side. I’m excited to see what God uses my dad for, excited to see the lost finds home in Christ.

So say we all,
Dae

Pain is weakness leaving the body

Photo by: Dae Shik Kim Jr. Taken at Moanalua Gardens

That was a quote left by my brother on my facebook.  I like it.  I’m not going to go all Plato on you and analyze it, but just think about that line.  Think about how much you have grown through pain.  How much stronger you have become.

Today was a pretty bad day to say the least.  I have had worse, but I have definitely have had better.  It start off with a fight with one of my closest friends and me snapping, gotta love that korean rage.  I look at snapping like alcohol, feels really good while doing it, but you have the worst hangover afterwards.  And as usual, I felt the hangover.  What is even worse than snapping is having the person you snapped at apologize first. (Talk about stab in your pride.)  At the end of the day we will still be bros, but I’d love to learn not to have these hiccups.

Anyway, that didn’t last long, and after I made a drive towards Magic Island Beach park.  But for some reason as walking towards my car, everything under my chin is in pain.  Like I decided to lift every muscle on my body the night before.  Puzzled, I shook it off and did a couple of arm circles (that’s my stretching) and started to drive.  I had my friend visiting me from Texas with me, Jin Yoo, and one of my friends from high school, Joanna, and we headed down.  Almost there, I started thinking about other things and I all I heard was curb!  I was about to curb hop a corner and saw it too late.  I’ve hopped curbs before, so I thought no big deal.   As I hopped it, the car shook like I hit an elephant.  As I tried to drive it off, my car started shaking.  I pulled over and I found out that I shredded my tire and needed to change it.

I looked at my tire and stood in the blazing sun, actually relieved.  Before I went out to check, I held my breath praying that I didn’t hit my bumper.  PTL that I had a jack and a spare tire in my trunk.  I have never changed a tire and got a little scared.  Thank God that I watched Rugrats season 4, episode 24, Looking for Jack, and remembered when Angelica’s mom had a flat tire and had to change her tire.  (no joke)  I started lifting my car with the jack and had a lot of time to think.

We often times hop curbs all the time in our lives.  Each time we hop a curb with our car, it damages the car a little bit, but we don’t notice it.  With our lives, we do sins over and over again that we don’t notice that harm us.  But there is that chance that one time you hop a curb, you will blow a tire and cause your car to wobble and unable to move forward.  Same with our lives, sins we do over and over again, could one day blow up in our faces, making us unable to move forward.  That jack in my car represents God.   As a jack for a car lifts up the car to make it able for me to change the flat tire,  God lifts us up to make it able for him to change the flat in our lives.  Without the jack, we will not ever be able to change it.  Driving could still be possible, but it will forever be wobbly and not smooth.  Slowly killing the car, as sin slowly kills us.

It is never too late to get a jack in your car, never too late to get a God named Jesus in your life.

Yoda, Mr. Miyagi, Coach Knight, and Elijah

Photo by: Dae Shik Kim Jr.

When you think of all of these names, one thing comes to mind, masters.  Or in other words, mentors, and probably some of the best ever.  Whether training up the next Jedi Master, or the next Karate Kid, each of these “characters” took people under their wing and taught them everything they know.  Not only were these masters great at teaching, but their students were very eager to learn.  An eager student + and an eager master = usually something amazing.

Today during my Journalism 401 class, we took a trip to a news organization called civil beat.  It is an internet ran newspaper and is flourishing during a time where print is dying, and fast, accessible news is booming.  Our speaker, John Temple, is actually the editor of civil beat.  He was going over the different aspects of the industry and some of the tips to strive.  One thing he did mention was how he learned most of the things he knows today.  He told us it was a combination of experience and mentorship.  He said he used to follow high profiled reporters all the time and just try to learn from them and what they were doing.  It was hard work, but by the time he was done shadowing, he knew so much more.  That really convicted me to start thinking about things in my own life.  I personally want to become the best pastor I can be.  I have a lot of pastoral role models and mentors, ex. Joseph Yoo, Kyung Lee, Chris Fujino etc, and have recently shadowed Pastor Joe this summer during an internship program.  I thought about how much I learned from a hands on experience, things I couldn’t learn from a text book.  Going through what he goes through every day, sermon prep, meeting prep, netflix prep, everything.  John Temple expressed how important internships were, and I couldn’t agree any less.

In the first Karate Kid, Daniel (after finally respecting Mr. Miyagi and what he had to offer) took his “internship” seriously.  Followed things all the way from breathing techniques, to how he struck an opponent.  Everything Mr. Miyagi knew, he was feeding into Daniel.  With the hope that not only will he be as good as he, but eventually greater.

A great example of this was the story of Elijah and Elisha.  Elisha was someone who followed Elijah everywhere.  Trying to learn as much things as he could before it was too late.  Before Elijah ascended into heaven, he asked Elisha for a final request.

2 Kings 2:9

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

I find this so fascinating.  How he could have asked his master for anything, and he went with a double portion of spirit.  Not saying at all that this is a small request, but the maturity and understanding of Elisha was incredible.  He knew he learned a lot from Elijah, and the last thing was to get not only the amount of spirit he had, but double.  And lets remember, Elijah had a lot of spirit and faith, one of two people in the Bible who did not pass away.

Interning with Joe was great, I came in with an open mind, wanting to get better, and grew a lot.  If I ever do another shadow or internship, I’ll be even more of a sponge/accepting mode.  So I challenge everyone reading, find something you want to get good at, especially if its for the glory of the Lord.  Then find a mentor, or teacher who will put in time and effort in taking you under his wing.  Learn as much as you can, the things they do well, and also their mistakes.  The sign of success will be the day you surpass your master.  Daniel got better than Miyagi, Luke over Yoda, Coach K over Coach Knight.  Not out of arrogance, but out of care and love from both ends.

Yesterday, Duke under Coach K beat Michigan State and made history.  With that win, Coach K became the most winningest coach in Division 1 basketball history.  The previous record holder? Coach Knight, his mentor.  Curious to see Knight’s reacted, they interviewed him.

There was nothing but praise towards his former mentee.  And that’s what we need to all find.  Someone to take us under their wing, and strive to make us the best.  Not only better then them, but the best.

I am blessed to have people I respect giving me guidance everyday of my life.  Sure, it takes a lot of pride swallowing and such, but it is well worth it. Maybe you will win 904 games, defeat the syth, win a karate tournament, or show God’s power over nations.  maybesomedae

So say we all,

Dae

Skid Row

This is my first blog post since I’ve left for summer internship.  So far I’ve been to DC for my orientation, and now I’m in LA, shadowing Pastor Joseph Yoo (josephyoo.com) at Valencia United Methodist Church.  Being at an Anglo Church is very different from a Korean church. (good and bad.)  The people are very nice here, maybe too nice, and seem to like me so far.

5 1/2 weeks shadowing Pastor Joe, enough said.

My first full week on the job started today, and it was a real eye opener.  Pastor Joe and I took a drive down to Skid Row so he could show how bad it is.  Let me tell you, it makes Chinatown look like Hawaii Kai.  (not undermining the problems in Chinatown at all, but it just shook me up a little bit.)  The first ten minutes of walking down the street, I was terrified.  Then my heart started to ache for the people I kept seeing.  Movies do not do a good enough job portraying the problems that this world faces.  If a bunch of us in Hawaii decided to head down to Chinatown to pick up trash, it wouldn’t be a problem.  But in Skid Row, we can’t even do that because there are needles everywhere on the street and it’d be very dangerous.  (Let’s just say I’ve never heard of a program called heroine anonymous before.)

Places like Skid Row exist, places like China town exist, the ghettos exist.  But what I realized is that Food shelters exist also, food vans exist, churches who come and feed exist, help exists.  So why is there still problem.

Of course I do not know the full answer to how to stop poverty and the drug problem completely.  If I did then I’d win the noble peace prize, and more.  But I do know what we are lacking.  We need to do more than just go there once a week (that is a lot for most Christian/non Christians) and give food to the homeless.  The other six days that you aren’t there, they are still hungry.  Or lets even say you go every day to provide one meal (that is a lot for even the justice league, bad joke.)  Will that really solve the homeless, drug problem.  Or will that just make them less hungry?  They will still be homeless.

Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.

The people on the streets aren’t just lacking food.  The people on the streets aren’t just lacking sobriety.  The people on the streets aren’t just lacking God Bless you’s and free bibles.  The people on the streets aren’t just lacking church.

They are lacking justice in Christ and love from the people from his kingdom.  We as brothers and sisters need to figure out what the homeless people need to figure out how to bring His kingdom here on earth for not only us, but for them.  Not just free meals.

Again, I am not undermining the fact that going out and serving lunches after service is not good.  But the fact is, you are still going home to your macbook, and he is still walking back to his bench.  Compassion is good, but that just scratches the surface.  There needs to be justice for them.

I do understand a lot of them ended up there because of drug problems and other things that is their fault.  But that does not mean it is ok for us to just say, your problem not mine.  Because it is our problem, if we Christians really want to do the will of God.

and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.”

Let us not forgot that whatever means everything.  Whatever does not mean somethings.

Like I said before, I do not know the answer to the problem on the streets.  But I am now seeing the problem for the streets.  And I am guilty.

By the way, I love DC and the east coast!  Can’t wait to go again.

(by the way, I owe a lot of this eye opening to my mentor Joseph Yoo.  Who also opened my eyes to Battlestar Galactica.  Both things being amazing. )

So say we all,

Dae