communityoftheholyfire

The 40 days of Lent is one of the most important seasons of the Church. Through prayer, repentance and self-denial, Christians walk out of darkness into light, preparing ourselves to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with indescribable joy.

Isaiah prophesied that the light of the glory of the Lord has arisen upon us, and he called his people who were in exile to prepare to leave the darkness of oppression and begin to live in the freedom of light.

Let us pray during this season to be free from one of the greatest hindrances to living a joyful Christian life: anxiety. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Anxiety is more than just worry, or concern, or discontent. The Germans express it as angst, and in Korea, han is the nearest equivalent. Darkness, and the fear that arises from it, is what Peter meant by “anxiety.” When God delivered Israel from Eqypt, He sent great darkness that covered the whole land; the people even “felt” the darkness. But there was great light for God’s people.

Perhaps one reason the disciples were arguing on the steps leading up to the Upper Room where they were to share their last meal with Jesus, was their anxiety that came out of the darkness of sin that remained in them. Perhaps the reason for disunity, quarreling, criticism and anger among Christians today is the darkness of anxiety that has not been dealt with by God’s people.

The darkness of anxiety separates people from another; it isolates us and causes deep loneliness. We are imprisoned, bound by this anxiety, causing a breakdown in communication that produces great fear in our lives.

This darkness, or anxiety, develops in three stages: first, people wonder at its magnitude; it is vast, and it covers the whole world. Second, we are bewildered at its destructive power; it dehumanizes people. Finally, this darkness, or anxiety, envelops people in great fear and dread, because it is unintelligible; it is impossible to know what will happen.

Satan is the author of darkness. He is the one who produces anxiety and fears among God’s people. He works through wicked people, and the wicked always try to evade, or overcome, the light of God. But the light shines in darkness, and evil powers cannot overcome it.

Today this anxiety of darkness and fear has overtaken nations throughout the world. It has overtaken not only North Korea, Iraq or Saudia Arabia, but also parts of South Korea, of America, and most nations of the world.

We as Christians can minister to people bound by the darkness of anxiety only when we ourselves are freed from anxiety and from all fears. The good news is that Jesus triumphed over Satan’s powers of darkness and fears. Anxiety is one of the principalities and powers of darkness that Jesus Christ defeated on the cross. The prophet Isaiah reports that kings and world rulers were shocked at the appearance of Jesus on the cross, so much so that his appearance was marred more than any human being. This was actually Jesus taking all the anxiety of the world upon Himself, that we might have peace.

Let us examine ourselves during this Lenten season, and let us fully receive the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and be completely rid of the anxiety that is caused by the darkness of sin within us. We will become free to walk away from all darkness, anxiety and from all fears. Let us say “YES!” to the Holy Spirit as He comes to cleanse and renew us during this important time before Resurrection Sunday so that we may walk away as blameless children of God who shine as lights in the world.

The remarkable thing about the youth choir that is visiting our YWAM base in Kona, Hawaii (where Ellen and I serving for six weeks) is that the 32-member choir is made up equally of youth from North Korea and youth from South Korea. Some were born in the South, others in the North; they fled North Korea with their parents, some very recently.

How beautiful it was to see young people, varying in ages from 10 to 30, enjoying one another, worshiping and singing together in such unity and freedom! Politics was not on their agenda, North-South tensions were not visible. Only one people, one nation, one new hope of tomorrow in a land torn by strife, war and persecution for most of its history. I could almost see the beauty of a flower opening to announce a new day in Northeast Asia.

I have always wanted to be a photographer. My family has had it share of good photographers, and many of you, my friends, are excellent. I think of Betts, or Joon Chan, or the master of all, Ham Chulhoon. So, having attained the age where one must follow through on his decisions, I recently enrolled as a student at the New York Institute of Photography (NYIP). 

The first thing I learned is to develop a sense of what to look for in the world around me. The guidelines that make this possible are: First, find a clear subject, one that is clear and unambiguous; second, focus attention on the subject, so that this will be the first thing people see when they look at the picture ; and third, simplify the photo by excluding those elements that detract from the subject. So you see, I am still very much a beginner, although I have taken photos all my life, beginning with the Kodak black box camera I was so proud to own when I was a child. But it’s good to start at the beginning.

I am a photographer, that’s how I see myself, however elementary I may be. I am also a meditator. So when I discovered these basic guidelines of photography I was not too surprised to realize that these same guidelines are necessary for one who desires to become a meditator. I speak of biblical meditation, with God as the ultimate subject of meditation and the Bible as the primary tool for revealing God.

When I meditate on a verse of Scripture (and this is my preferred way of meditating–one verse a day), for example, Psalm one, verse one, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want,” I use these three guidelines. First, I carefully observe every word and seek to discover the main theme about which God may want to speak to me, or about which God and I can have a conversation (The beginning of discipleship is a conversational relationship with God.). I know at that time that God wants to talk with me about His being my Shepherd. Second, I focus my full attention on the words of the text. I do not allow my mind to wander beyond those words, because I desire my mind and heart to be filled with God as my Shepherd. Finally, I simplify everything by dismissing from my mind my preconceived opinions about what that may imply for my life. This does not mean I remove all knowledge about what this text means, that I have attained through prior deep study of the text; but this time, I want to know not what God is saying to the whole world, but rather what God might have to say to me as an individual. I dismiss the interruptions, distractions and noises surrounding me and simplify my approach. Then I experience an exciting time of solitude and silence, which always leads to action.

Well . . . I’m not yet there as a photographer. But someday perhaps I will find a shepherd and photograph him or her, and show the world the profound meaning and beauty of what it means to be a shepherd.

Thank you for praying for our upcoming trip to South Korea.

We will be in Cheju Island from January 1st to 4th, ministering to the 300 staff and students at YWAM’s University of the Nations there.

January 6th through 10th, we will be in Seoul at the annual Unification Vision Conference, a week long conference sponsored by the major mission organizations working for the unification of North and South Korea. I will be speaking several times throughout the week.

We wil be ministering in churches on January 5th and 12th, and returning to Seattle on January 13th.

Thank you for your prayers. Perhaps we may be able to see some of you if you happen to be in Cheju or Seoul. God bless you. Please continue to pray for a peaceful unification of North and South Korea, under the One Shepherd, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God. Do not be afraid of Satan’s plans for the Korean Peninsula. God is almighty and His will shall prevail. 

At the close of an extraordinary year, my mind is drawn to the confession of Jacob as he was blessing his grandchildren. He spoke of “the God who has been my Shepherd all my life long to this day.” (Genesis 48:15) This has become my own confession, because the only way I can understand the many events and happenings of my life, and my family’s, is that the Good Shepherd has led us all the way. Through the valleys of dark shadows–and I am so glad that Psalm 23 does not merely say “into the valley,” but rather, “Yea, though I walk through the valleys”–God has always been present. 

How many times have you been aware of that strange sensation, a rather marvelous sensation, really, of being able to sense the strong Presence of the Lord in the presence of enemies, the spiritual enemies that attack and try to take away joy? And yet the joy increases because our Shepherd has set a table before us in the presence of our enemies.

As the New Year begins, our family is making the 3 confessions of Psalm 23:

We shall not want, we shall be perfectly content in every situation, because the Lord is our Shepherd. (verse 1)

We shall not be afraid, because the Shepherd is with us. (verse 4)

We shall dwell in the presence of the Lord, because goodness and mercy continue to follow us. (verse 6)

Some time ago, a dear lady from North Korea who sought refuge in the South told me about her father, who left the North in the late 1950’s for freedom in Seoul. He was unable to take his daughter because she had injured her leg, promising to return for her the next year. But the border was closed the next year. She was a little nine year old girl at the time, and her mother would take her under the thick blanket at night, and very secretly and silently sing to her the hymns of the Church, and recite a verse of Scripture to her. As she was reminiscing on those early years of great suffering, unbearable suffering, she said that she learned to walk through the valley of the shadow of death with Jesus, Her Shepherd and Guide. Today she is an “under-shepherd,” walking under the Great Shepherd of the sheep, to serve God’s people in the South. She walks in joy.

So it is with us. We walk through our deep valleys and suddenly discover that we are singing, praising the Lord and overcoming. Our fears are turned into strength, and we are ready for a new year. May you walk, in this New Year, with the God who has been your Shepherd all your life long to this day. And let us pray for the millions of people who are suffering, persecuted because of their faith, or those who are encountering unbearable loneliness and sickness. Perhaps you can be their shepherd.

As I was praying about the critical and somewhat sensitive situation on the Korean Peninsula, I happened to read this very encouraging message from the Magnificat (my favorite daily devotional book). It is written by the Very Rev. Robert Barron. Since it was sent to me (and to all Magnificat subscribers), I feel free to post it here (in quotations).

“Luke tells us that on Christmas night an angel appeared to shepherds keeping watch over their sheep. Don’t get sentimental about angels, imagining them to be sweet and unthreatening. Instead, keep in mind that the typical reaction to the sudden manifestation of a higher being from another dimension is, quite properly, fear. Indeed, the Christmas messenger says to the shepherd, ‘Don’t be afraid,’ which implies that they were!

“The angel announces the Good News of Christ’s birth, and then we are told that ‘there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel praising God . . . ‘ If one angel is terrifying, imagine what a multitude of them is like. The Greek word that is translated as ‘host’ is straitias, which means army. Our words ‘strategy’ and ‘strategic’ are derived from it. The most powerful man in the world at that time was Caesar Augustus, and his power was grounded in the fact that he had the biggest and best-trained army. The rather subtle and subversive point that Saint Luke is making is this: the newborn baby of Bethlehem has an even bigger and more frightening army. Mind you, this angelic army doesn’t fight with the weapons of the world, but it can indeed overwhelm anything that is in the world.”

So friends, we need not worry about the presence of those mighty armies on the Korean Peninsula. God has His own spiritual army, and He will prevail. God is working His purpose out, and time is drawing near. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)

[Suggested reading: Luke 1:26-45] 

On this second Sunday of Advent, we think of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. A humble, ordinary country girl, her life was turned upside down by a visit from the angel Gabriel. She was about 13 years old, possibly as old as 15, inexperienced in the world and not able to fully understand what was happening. Yet her response to the angel’s message reveals a deep spiritual maturity and an emotional stability far beyond her young age.

Gabriel greeted her by calling her the “favored one,” greatly blessed by God. This alone shocked her, but when he informed her that she was to bear the seed of Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father (see Hebrews 1:1-2), her surprise and fear became greater. She wanted to run away as far as she could to avoid what this would mean. At the time, all young Jewish girls dream, romantically of course, of becoming the “mother of the Messiah;” but it only happened to one little girl, Mary!

The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would plant the seed of Jesus, the Messiah, in her womb  and that she would bear a son without human intervention. The shocking news was that the Kingdom of God would be inaugurated in her young, trembling, but receptive body!

Here is the greatest gift ever given to a human: to conceive and give birth to Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. The Virgin Birth stands at the heart of the fundamental miracle of Christmas. God chose to enter the world directly, through the body of one young girl. Divine Intervention, with no sin! And we begin to see already, at Christmastime, the cross and resurrection of Jesus, who came and died, and rose again, that sinful human beings can be reborn directly through the Spirit of God!

Everything depended on Mary’s response to the angel. He told her that nothing is impossible with God, and she replied, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word!”

Here is a call to allow Mary to teach us how to celebrate Christmas! Surrender to God is everything! My abilities? They are not the important thing. I simply offer my full obedience to God and say, “Everything is Yours, Lord; everything is from You and is for You!” God alone can, and will regulate and direct all affairs of our lives. What must I do? Simply BE! Surrender all to God!

Mary’s “Amen!” to God was the beginning of a life of great suffering. But this was her glory, if only God’s will could be done in her life. This Christmas let us welcome the Kingdom of God, God’s rule over every aspect of our lives! And let us open ourselves to embrace Jesus Christ.

I apologize for the long absence. You may have visited the Community of the Holy Fire and wondered if the fire had been extinguished. Most definitely not! Ellen and I have been traveling to Asia–China, North Korea and South Korea, and we discovered that Asia, especially Northeast Asia, is changing more rapidly than we had imagined.

You hear about China in the news, but you may not have heard that the Chinese Church is more alive and vigorous than at most any time in the past. The Church there is looking outward, not inward. They are beginning to reach out to the world where the Gospel is desperately needed but  very difficult to proclaim: the Middle East and North Korea. Christians from China are targeting these two areas, and they have the manpower and the supernatural “God power” of the Holy Spirit to complete the task. Please continue to pray for the Chinese Church–the underground Church, the government sponsored 3-Self Church and the city Church. Leaders of these three branches are coming together in a unity which we have not previously seen. Pray for increasing favor from governing authorities for the Church there. Then begin to share in the vision!

North Korea remains largely “hidden” from the world. Some of what we read in the news is true; it is just not the complete truth. There is an increasing openness of North Korea society to the outside world. You can do business there. You can live there and work on projects for community development. And the Church of North Korea is very much alive–hidden, but alive! Part of the hiddenness of the Church there is God’s desire to protect His precious people until the right time–and God’s time alone is always the right time–when He will once again allow His purified Church to surface to bless the world. Pray for dialogue and diplomacy among the nations that influence North Korea: the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia, China, Mongolia, and other nations. When Christians pray, God guides our government diplomats and leaders. During our visit there I could see “eternity” in many people’s eyes. Pray, pray, pray! Pray for protection against persecution, pray for more opening of the economic market, and pray for Divine Intervention in the lives of the top leaders.

Most satisfying in our South Korea trip was to visit with many old friends and partners in mission. God is renewing, purifying and empowering YWAM Korea (예수전도단).

God bless you.