To ANY,

I always wonder how I got to where I am and why it had to be the way that it did.  But one things for sure.  I wouldn’t be where I am…but even more than that who I am… if it wasn’t for all of you. 

I stepped away from youth ministry a couple of months ago and now I’m serving in different ministries, but my heart still goes out to the young people of this generation…to you.  I know it’s been a long while, but I miss all of you and I found myself praying for all my former youth students this past weekend as I was guest preaching at a retreat.  There was a lot of similarities with the youth group that I was with and ANY.  And as I was praying for God to move in them, He began to stir in me prayers for you as well—prayers that God would move in you. 

Just felt the need to share with you that God always reminds me of you all and I am praying for you every time He does. 

PJoJo

To KCCYG…

It’s been about 2 months since I did ministry for the Youth of the church.  But this past weekend I was a guest speaker at a youth retreat (KGPCYG) and throughout the time there, I was flooded with memories of all of you.  God was stirring in my heart a need for prayer and I was battling in prayer for all of you this weekend.  Strangely, there were people that looked like KCCYG people, my prayers went out to you…some of you went to their coffeehouse on the Saturday before…my prayers went out to you… and some of you attend the same schools, my prayers went out to you…  seeing some of the student leaders reminded me of how blessed KCCYG was with both “official” and “unofficial” leaders.  People who just stepped it up…and stepped out!  My prayers went out to you. 

I just felt the need to share with you that God continues to stir my heart to battle with you and for you in prayer. 

Waiting for the day where God will allow our paths to cross again. 

My heart goes out to you.

Pastor Josiah (jobahiah, Pjo, pjojo, Pj)

Was driving on the road to the hospital as the sun was cracking over the horizon.  It was the first time that I ever thought the thought of trying to push the sun back down so that this day would never begin…so that this day wouldn’t unfold as it did.  Though there was nothing wrong with the sunrise…it just seemed ugly today.  

Oh sunrise, nothing personal.

2nd annual turkey bowl was a blast! some good memories from today. counting them down. #3) Anny and her human spartan shield play! SPARTANS!!! #2) the random neighborhood kid that came to join us (Matt) telling Anny “NO!” when she asked him for the ball…Shut down! AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST #1) Andrew Park getting run over (TRUCKED) by Joe Kim! CLASSIC!

Thanks to  everyone that came out including our official time keeper who couldn’t stand the cold so he went into his car…Chulz Chung!

Not with a spirit of complaint or derision, but with a genuine anger caused by injustice, I write. 

So for the first time I think in many years, we had our first Saturday early morning prayer session in English.  There were only 4 participants other than me, but that was 4 more than I expected.  1 was cramming for SAT’s this morning and another was forced by parents to show up, but we were there.  We praised, we received God’s Word and we prayed.  I believe God was moving and stirring in our midst because He saw how the few were gathered in His name, forsaking sleep, the warmth of our beds, and pursuing after a God that pursues us. 

RAORDKRODIJSRPOASJSDPSODKFJPWEOIRJDSODJBODKSJOFPWOEIRJSPDFSF. 

What is that?  Glad you asked.  Well, just like the above horrible usage of letters in CAPITALS that interrupted some well laid out prose, there was something horrible that interrupted our time to hear God’s prose over us. 

People coming into the worship room, slamming the doors, and in the end, turning on all the lights even though the 4 of us that remained (SAT person had to leave for her exam) were still in the midst of prayer.  Were we sleeping?  NO!  We were praying!!!

WHY WERE WE INTERRUPTED??????????  BECAUSE THEY SCHEDULED A PRAISE PRACTICE IN THE ROOM AT 7:30!!!!!!~!!!!!!!@!@~!@~!@~!#@$@&*(#@$!!

In the words of Allen Iverson…”Practice?….We talkin’ bout practice here.  PRACTICE?” 

I understand that they had scheduled the room for 7:30am (of which I was not informed).  But to top it all off, the people come in and they don’t have their instruments.  They just form a circle for their sharing and devotion time.  I mean for real.  Can somebody please explain this to me?  If there are people seeking intimacy in a space of worship, can’t you just use the room next door to have your meeting and then considerately come in when the prayer time is over?  Literally, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!

There’s just something not right when the usage of a worship space is prioritized for practice more than prayer.  It’s just not RIGHT!  Can I get an AMEN!!!???

And this led me to think…maybe they thought that we were just sleeping and not sincerely praying because we’re just youth students.  Or maybe they thought it was cute that we were trying to have our prayer time.  All of these thoughts could go in the wrong direction because of assumption, but if this is the case, there is something sincerely wrong with the way that people are viewing the younger people in this church. 

Psalm 8:2

“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”

If we are not empowering the children to pray and praise the Lord, then we’re missing a major part of this battle.  Who do they (some of the Adult members of our church) think that they are to belittle the work of God amongst the youth of this generation?

This just so emphasizes the need to pray even more…oh…I think my wife is going into labor early…more prayer!  Got to go to the hospital!

I know that this may sound really horrible, but it actually crossed my mind… Aileen and I have been talking in preparation for baby #2 and we’re constantly hearing ourselves tell each other about how we forgot how to take care of a baby.  It’s been about 3 years since we were busy scrambling around local Baby’R’uS-es and trips to the pediatrician and the multiple doctors that needed to see Sophia in the first difficult months of life.  With our first, we read up on all the books and magazines because it was a world all too unfamiliar.  We had to brace ourselves from the coming storm.  And the thought that came across my mind with #2 is…well, it’s like taking care of a new car right?  I’ve had one of those before…

-a new thing to marvel at that all of a sudden shows up at your house

-a lot of paperwork and stuff to sign

-a large investment that requires a lot of care and attention

-an addition to our family

-you give it a special name and a special place in your heart for it

-essentially, you just spend your time trying your best to make sure nothing goes wrong and protect it from any accidents

I guess because it’s round 2 we’re not as anxious or…not as prepared or just flat out delusional.  Whatever it may be, it’s looking more and more harder than when we originally came up with this great thought of…”hey, I think Sophia really needs a younger sibling!” 

It’s also because when Sophia first came into our scene, it was like a suspense thriller with lots of drama and a lot of pressure situations.  And that’s cool with me…I work great under pressure.  Do what you got to do and think about the emotions later!  But this time around, I don’t know what to do with myself.  I’ve got too much time on my hands to think things through and my mind takes me to places like these…”it’s just like getting a new car…you can handle that, can’t you?”

But true, having a baby is nothing like getting a new car.  If I’m thinking like this these days…wondering if I’m ready from #2?

So much to do.  So much to prepare for.  On my knees.  Seeking wisdom from above.  Countdown.  5 days.