22 years and counting

Birthday Cake

Its strange the thoughts that go through my head on my birthday. I get strangely self-conscious about receiving attention on my birthday.. is that normal? haha, maybe i'm just weird. anyways this year, I had the privilege of my birthday being on the Lord's day and all the better because it was a magnificent time of reflection, solitude, and service. I feel that too often I'm caught in the center of attention, whether it be through leadership, worship, or even amongst friends. Though I feel blessed to always be included and looked upon, it was refreshing that on a day where the world tells me that I am to be the center of attention, I was given the opportunity to be reminded that all Glory belongs to God.

There is so much to share about the past week, but in retrospect I would like to highlight just a few that were significant and that I'd like to remember.

On tuesday, I had the joy of being able to go to small groups at Troy Souther's house. Its been awhile because I've had sunday morning worship practices for the past month and I'd almost forgotten the joy that time spent with those brothers bring me. I feel even more blessed that we have an elder and an elder-to-be leading us and sharing wisdom with us younger guys. We started off talking about Yosemite, backpacking, nature, and the aquarium at Monterey Bay. These guys have just been to so many places and done so many things, it never ceases to amaze me. The conversation concluded with an agreement that we would go on a backpacking trip to Monterey bay before I left in December; I'm desperately hoping that it goes through! We then got started continuing our reading through Exodus. The text for tonight was on Exodus 18-19.

Exodus 18 related to the advice that Jethro (Moses' father-in-law) gave regarding the delegating of the work that Moses was doing. That he should look for "able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe" to put over the people. It was a good reminder for myself, that though I may be called to positions of responsibility, God will also provide good people to delegate the work to, and that is in fact the biblical thing to do. We also talked about the impact this would have on our government if we only heeded the advice so plainly given in the Bible.

Exodus 19 was about Israel entering into the wilderness of Sinai and coming before the mountain on which they were to receive the law of the Lord. Israel was called to prepare for three days in preparation of being in the presence of the mountain on which the Lord would be present. They weren't even going to be on the mountain (for if they touched it they would die) and they still needed such a great amount of preparation. This provoked an interesting conversation about the preparation that we as people of the new covenant go through in regards to worship, which then led to a conversation of how CPC (Central Pres) could continue to develop our worship services. All in all, I was deeply encouraged by the wisdom which these two men have been blessed with and the insight of my brothers that were there.

My reflections from that time?
1: Remind myself to prepare continuously through the week to enter into corporate worship on Sunday.
2: Our God is Holy and deserving of all of our worship. As we come to worship on Sunday (or any day for that matter) I need to realize that regardless of what I'm going through or how I feel, this is a day set apart for worshiping our God.
3: Continue to seek wisdom from the older generations. They are wiser than me.

My second highlight of the week,

Was the awesome food I had in Davis at Fuji's sushi buffet!! haha jk, but really it was good. Anyways I took Tiffany to see her best friend at Davis and to eat sushi : ) During the 2 hours that I had to myself, I went to Borders and just read. Now this seems pretty dumb to be my second highlight, but its been a really really long time since I've been able to just go and read by myself. It was a good time of reflection and solitude :D

Lastly, I received an email from an old friend today. We seem to have grown apart throughout this past year and he had the courage to address that. It was both encouraging and challenging to me in the sense that I need to continue to be intentional with those that are close to me, and to not grow complacent nor take for granted the relationships that I have.

However, I am also reminded that as we walk our lives, people come and go, but our God is constant and always there. Its a reminder to me that God uses our relationships in different ways and for different purposes. Sometimes, he draws us apart to give us the opportunity to meet new people. But in that, we must always trust and have faith that our close relationships are placed in the sovereignty of God and that there is no need to fear a loss of a friendship that is bounded in Christ. For though we may fall in and out of those relationships on this earth, they will last for all eternity in the glories of Heaven.

I'll close with this exhortation from 1 John.

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:18-19

Soli Deo Gloria!

-Sam Kim