Jesus said to His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Samaria was not far from Jerusalem. The real obstacle was never the distance—it was [...]
This week, America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding (1776–2026). The history of Korean immigration to America dates to 1903, when 102 Korean immigrants, many of them members of Naeri Methodist Church in Incheon, arrived in Hawaii to work on sugar plantations. Their 123-year history in America represents nearly half of the nation's history. [...]
Have We Ended Up with Exclusion and Rejection? -A Reflection on Unity, Inclusion, and the Methodist Spirit One of the first things that catches your eye when you visit the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary is the statue of John Wesley on horseback. It symbolizes the tireless “itinerant preacher” who never ceased proclaiming the [...]
Lately, pastors in the neighborhood have been inviting me to join them for meals at the senior center operated in our church. Breakfast costs one dollar and lunch two dollars. There is always a long line. Last week, the dining hall was especially crowded, and we had to wait quite a while. Later I learned [...]
Today I need to have a document notarized verifying that I am the Senior Pastor of FUMC in Flushing. Due to an incident that took place more than fifty years ago, the New York State Education Department, the Girl Scouts, and FUMC in Flushing have been named in a lawsuit. Our attorney asked me to [...]
As we began yesterday's church bazaar, we repeated three simple slogans: Be joyful! Be thankful! And don't fight trying to do a good job! The purpose of the bazaar is not simply to raise money. Its greater purpose is to share joy with our neighbors and to experience the blessing of serving together. The joy [...]
As I grow older, one thing I realize more deeply is that our faith must ultimately become visible in our relationships. No matter how much we pray, how faithfully we attend church, or how passionately we serve, if the fragrance of Jesus is not revealed in our lives, people will eventually walk away disappointed. In [...]
As I grow older, one thing I realize more deeply is that our faith must ultimately become visible in our relationships. No matter how much we pray, how faithfully we attend church, or how passionately we serve, if the fragrance of Jesus is not revealed in our lives, people will eventually walk away disappointed. In [...]
Throughout this entire Family Month in May, my heart has felt uneasy. Whenever I hear the old song “An Unfilial Son Cries,” tears come to my eyes. Yet I still must preach about honoring parents. I talk about loving our children even though I do not feel I was the father I should have been. [...]
Even after many years in ministry, Mother’s Day sermons remain the hardest for me to preach. A few days ago, a young pastor jokingly said to me, “Please don’t cry too much this Mother’s Day.” I replied, “Why would I cry? Only unfilial sons cry.” Then he smiled and said, “We all know you cry [...]