As I prepared for the Administrative Board meeting and the Class Meeting and Member Care Ministry meetings that took place this past Sunday and weekend, one thought continued to stay in my heart. I felt that I needed to express my gratitude to our church leaders and congregation — gratitude that I had not fully [...]
When we look at the world today, our hearts feel heavy. Economic uncertainty, political division, social fragmentation, and the survival anxiety felt by immigrant communities have filled many people’s hearts with fear. In areas where many immigrants live, a deep sentiment has taken root: “Even if we work hard, we are not safe.” This reality [...]
In today’s sermon text from the book of Genesis, there is a sentence that appears repeatedly: “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a prosperous man.” In the world’s understanding, to be “prosperous” usually means that things go smoothly as planned, that one is rewarded in proportion to one’s effort, and that life is [...]
Starting at 8 a.m. this morning, more than 12 inches of snow is expected to fall through tomorrow, and due to the severe cold, a Winter Hazard Warning has been issued for the New York and New Jersey area. As a result, the 8 a.m. worship service will be held in person, while the second [...]
Over the past ten days, my time spent between the Laos mission field and the revival meetings at Yanggok Church in the city of Changwon, Korea became, in many ways, two experiences at opposite extremes. Yet together, they formed a season of deep challenge, learning, and reflection. Laos is one of the poorest countries in [...]
One of the projects commemorating the 50th anniversary of FUMC in FLUSING last year was the construction of a Peace Center. The project was delayed because Laos is a communist country, and various concerns were raised regarding the ownership of buildings and property. To make an informed decision, I traveled to Laos last week. I [...]
This New Year’s greeting comes from the poet Na Tae-joo: “Today is the first day among all the remaining days of my life. Tomorrow will also be the first day among all the remaining days of my life. Therefore, you and I are today and tomorrow the first person and a new person of our [...]
My childhood friend posted this on his Facebook: "Today is Mother's Day. I suddenly miss my late mother and open the photos on my cell phone. I am startled. Oh, did I ever take a picture of my mom? There are thousands of pictures, but as I browse through them, there is no mom. Children's [...]
2020 General Conference held in Charlotte from April 23 to May 3 under the theme of ‘Know that I am God’ brought an end to all the debates on ordination of self -avowed homosexual persons. The conference itself had an ambiguous name from the start. It was named the "2020 General Conference" while it met [...]
I've been thinking a lot lately about how I want to live the rest of my life. I want to live well. I still feel like I'm doing okay as a pastor, and there doesn't seem to be any major obstacles. Of course, compared to when I was in my 40s or 50s, I may [...]