Convocation and Commencement

Spring always brings the start and end to many things in life - from rain to sunshine, from hidden sprigs to blooming flowers, from seniors to graduates. Running from Zellerbach to the Greek Theater and cheering graduates and then running back to Sproul to take pictures and meeting parents and family friends and sharing a celebratory meal is all a part of this wonderful celebration. Spring is the season of change and it's so exciting to see many end this chapter of their lives. And so as we end another year of school I'm reminded of the many faces of those who have made Gracepoint and Koinonia their home for the past four years. I really consider it a privilege that I have had the opportunity to minister to many of them - eating in our home, teaching them Bible study, playing countless games and sports, joking and telling stories, taking trips and even speaking some hard truths at times; and some I've had the privilege of seeing come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. I feel so blessed seeing how their lives and ours have intertwined.  But I know that as much as this is the end of a season, it is the beginning of another.  I always thought commencement was an odd word for a graduation ceremony but over the years I have seen how it is a fitting word for graduates as they begin this new and almost real chapter of their lives.  All they learned in college is what they will take with them for almost the rest of their lives. Thinking back to a Sunday message we recently had in Mark 12, I'm reminded that all of our lives belong to God.  And I pray that the seniors can really submit their entire lives to the Lordship of Christ - from their jobs, careers, grad school, marriage, time, energy, money - so that they can personally experience God and so that God can use each of those things - degrees, money, jobs.  

Signups

We have a lot going on this  summer so I thought I would put it all in one place - all nice and pretty like. 

SET: Summer Evangelism Training

GSI: Gracepoint Summer Institute

MYT: Multiply Your Talents

30 hour Famine

Summer IMs

Koinonia 2 - Year in Review

Here's a slideshow that some of the staff put together of our past year together. 

Farewell, adieu to you and you and you

Before embarking on finals we all gathered one last time this school year to honor the seniors who are graduating this year.  We celebrated May bdays, played "Guess Who" (an embarrassing game that tries to match people to their baby pictures) and ended the night with a few last words from the seniors and the staff.  The seniors shared their words of wisdom to the other students and the staff shared their advice for the seniors and students. 

It's hard to believe that the school year is coming to a close.  Yesterday was the last day of instruction and now finals are here.  It's been 10 years for me since I had taken my last final.  The best advice that I gave and would give to anyone willing to listen is to hang in there.  Life can be tough with many struggles - from our own flaws to hard truths about life, ourselves and even difficult decisions about our future.  No matter how tough life can be, I think the most important lesson I've learned is to hang on - to God's Word and the people of God.  These have helped me get through many important and difficult times in my own life. 

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Courage - Facing Fears

Last week, Pastor Ed Kang led a bunch of brothers on a trip to Sierra Lodge.  We had a wonderful time of sharing memories, laughter, food and song together.  From the campfire - with smores and singing oldies - to the late-night hike star gazing we enjoyed being together and enjoying God's creation.  

I think the most memorable time for me was the DT sharing time through Joshua 1.  In particular we discussed the topic of courage and really the lack thereof in our culture today.  Courage is not readily rewarded and not easily found today because being pragmatic, prudent and disciplined is far more applauded and considered virtuous. In a way, it's also because we don't have orcs to defeat and dragons to slay so we do need to find ways to be courageous in less dramatic ways.  Also, being courageous is not being simply accessing some reckless bravado that numbs oneself to his fears.  Instead, it's identifying our fears and facing them and still pushing through. For Joshua, he had just lost his great leader and mentor and he must have been feeling insecure and tepid.  But God comes to him to  assuage his fears and insecurities and keep pressing on into the Promised Land.  For me the fears that I face range from losing face, being labelled a loser or experiencing disapproval, or failing in some significant way, etc...  As I thought about my fears and this passage I thought how much I want to identify and face my fears.  And as I came across this picture from our campfire I thought how much I want to burn my fears up in those flames. 

All Koinonia Bible Study - 5/9 @ 7pm

This Friday we will have an All Koinonia Bible Study at 7pm at First Presbyterian. Afterward, we will be gathering Koinonia 2 wide to have an end of the year final rally together and have a special time with the seniors (and one junior) who are graduating! We're going to play some games, watch a slideshow and hear some parting and special words from the seniors themselves.

Please join us and support our graduates!

31 rows

If you've ever played Jenga you know the "pressure" that's involved as you must move a building block from the bottom to the top.  Among four friends it's fun but among forty?  Now that's pressure! Last Friday night, after our Gracepoint Monthly, the Frosh and Sophs from Koinonia 2 gathered to have some shaved ice and play some games.  We started off with Family Feud which went down-to-the-wire and then we finished off the night with team jenga. With 40 people in 4 different teams taking turns we made it up to 31 rows!  Check out the slideshow.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Gracepoint Monthly - 5/2 @ 7pm

This Friday we'll be having Gracepoint Monthly at First Presbyterian at 7pm.  Beforehand, we're going to eat at 6pm at Crossroads DC.  

Leads me "beside quiet waters"

Psalm 23 is one of the classic Christian passages of all time and I thought it was a wonderful passage to reflect on this past week and in light of our Baptism service this past Sunday. One of the girls in Ellen's group along with 18 other people got baptized this past weekend. As I heard many people's stories from the videos I thought how many were the same in that they were lost or looking for some "pool of water to satisfy" them like ambition, career, romance, just being liked but in the end God found them and directed them to the water that would truly satisfy them.

I thought of my own testimony and how I came to Cal as an anxious, insecure, yet cocky East Coaster. I based my identity on what others thought of me instead of being a genuinely loved child of God. Indeed, God has been the good shepherd who has led me "beside quiet waters" - to live a life that is centered on loving Him and loving others. Any other pursuit - for man's attention - is certainly not worth it.  The message of how God has been leading my whole life and nothing has been by chance really hit me once again and I was really humbled.  God knows what is best for my life and I need to be humble to receive this and let him guide me by letting his rod and staff comfort me - protecting me from sin and molding and shaping me into the person of love he wants me to be. 

Hans and Franz

Last Thursday, some of us celebrated the 18th birthday of Isaiah Kang, the oldest son of Pastor Ed Kang and Kelly Kang.  And we had some special guest visitors drop by - Hans and Franz. Those of you familiar with our church's Glive or Christian Festival productions, no doubt, are familiar with Hans and Franz and sometimes known as the Dorcs.  Hans and Franz challenged Isaiah Kang to an arm wrestling competition.  But they were all flash and no cash as Isaiah soundly humiliated their "puny" attempt. Of course, they defended their loss by saying "Happy Birthday"!

It was a fun and wonderful time celebrating how faithful God has been in Isaiah's life.  When I had returned from a 1 year trip abroad serving as an English teacher and helping a church I moved in with Pastor Ed and Kelly Kang and Isaiah, Noah and Anna.  We shared many wonderful times together and really felt like a family.  I especially loved the late night times of fellowship over the dinner table as Pastor Ed would whip up anything and everything. This is one trait I know that Isaiah has as well!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Expelled

Last Sunday, after church, a bunch of us went to go watch Expelled, a documentary about the tension between the theory of Intelligent Design and Darwinism.  The film stars Ben Stein whom I know most famously from the old film about skipping school called "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"- "Bueller, Bueller".  If you haven't seen the movie don't worry about it but Stein is hilarious for his monotone demeanor and being quite expressionless, which is actually funny. I found the movie very stimulating and although I am not a science major I have studied both camps quite a bit.  I definitely was impressed with the movie and especially many of the implications of the ideas of a life that is lived out simply from a Darwinian perspective that does not include a Creator God or an Intelligent Designer.  Having studied history and political movements and its ideas and theories I saw the powerful effect of a worldview that is devoid of a Creator.  

As we exited the theater we had a really unexpected surprise. We ran into Dr. Philip Johnson, author of "Darwin on Trial" and professor of law at Boalt Hall at UC Berkeley.  He was one of the pioneers in the movement against Darwinism and worked closely with Dr. William Dembski who was also in the movie.  It was a powerful moment as we got to be together and just share in the historic event of this movie coming out.  Pastor Ed Kang was there and we prayed together for the ID movement and the many people working hard within it and just the bringing down of the walls in academia. What a way to finish the movie. I was really thankful for all the people in the sciences who are working so hard and using the gift of their intellect to fight in the battle of worldviews and ideas. 

Clinton Village Visit

Last week some of us from Koinonia2 got together and visited Clinton Village Nursing Home in Oakland.  We went there for our annual Valentine's Day of Compassion and they asked us to come back.  We sang a few songs, one of the brothers did a gospel presentation with some rope and magic and we got to spend time with some really precious souls.  I think we were the most blessed as we got to share just a little bit of love.  How appropriate it was for us to be meditating on 1 Corinthians 13. 

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Baptism Sunday - 4/27 @ 4pm

I am very excited and thankful for all the brothers and sisters at our church who will be baptized this coming Sunday.  Baptism Sunday is a special time for us as a church as we get to hear and watch the video testimonies of how people came to know God and have a personal relationship with Him.  Some people come from very good homes and some from broken homes and some who grew up in church their whole lives and some who never stepped foot into a church before ours.  Truly the gospel message is for all people. 

Homegroup Bible Study - 4/25 @ 7pm

I know you're thinking, yeah right.  But really, we are going to have a homegroup Bible study this week.  And it will be the last one of the semester as we're going to have all Koinonia Bible studies on campus from May.  This week we're going to be going over Psalm 23.