John 3:16

Imagenes del mundo_2

View more presentations from Hyung Kim.

My Father is "the" Gardener... John 15:1

Click the button for audio!

10 Reasons Why You Cannot Be Lazy

(See how many weeds u can find - my frontyard at 7979 de palma)

• You  are born neither poor nor rich; you are born with ‘nothing’. When you came out of your mom either at a community hospital or elsewhere, how much did you come with you?” Yet, why does one person get poor while someone else rich? (Answer: Proverb 10:4)
• Okay, now you are lucky enough to have $1 million in your savings account. After and despite all the expenditures for this or that, what will happen to the balance? Well, it depends on many factors, but first of all how did you get it? Via hard work? Or through an easy way like winning a lottery? Easy come easy go. “The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions.” (Proverb 12:27) 
• You say, “Well, I can always file for chapter 7 bankruptcy, and get a relief.” Fine. But the society (see what the Standard and Poor’s did for the U.S.) keeps referencing your credit score to determine whether you deserve the interest rate you desire.
• According to the Dictionary.com ‘idle’ means, “to pass time doing nothing; to move, loiter, or saunter aimlessly.” So as times passes when you do nothing what will happen? A quick answer – Murphy’s Law, “All that can go wrong will go wrong (sooner than later)”. Thus, “if a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.” Ecclesiastes 10:18  
• During the wintertime, an ant was living off the grain that he had stored up for himself during the summer. The cricket came to the ant and asked him to share some of his grain. The ant said to the cricket, 'And what were you doing all summer long, since you weren't gathering grain to eat?' The cricket replied, 'Because I was busy singing I didn't have time for the harvest.' The ant laughed at the cricket's reply, and hid his heaps of grain deeper in the ground. 'Since you sang like a fool in the summer,' said the ant, 'you better be prepared to dance the winter away!' [Credit - http://mythfolklore.net/aesopica/perry/373.htm] [Matthew 25:26; Hebrews 6:12; Proverbs 20:4; 22:13; 26:13]
• The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4 Question: what do crave and desire have in common? Or how are they different? Why does the one who craves gets nothing whereas the one who desires gets fully satisfied?
• If you are an employer, you are not supposed to man the customer service department with a lazy bunch, for that is the quickest way to see the company going down the tube. (Proverbs 10:26)
• I like my DeWalt power drill. You use different drill bits to drill in different material like metal, wood, or masonry. Now we serve people with different issues differently like: “1) Warn those who are idle; 2) Encourage the timid; 3) Help the weak; and 4) Be patient with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) Why do you ‘warn’ the idle? Why do we even say, ”If a man will not work, he shall not eat”? (2 Thessalonians 3:10) And what are they warned against? Answer: the devil makes the most use of him, causing  him or her to fall victim to all sorts of deceiptful schemes like false prophecies  (2 Thessalonians 2; 3:6-7,11).  (The title of a sequal goes:“Idle hands are the devil’s playthings”.)
• I sweat to keep my garden (front yard and back yard) ‘weed-free’, but you know it gets messy real quick; if I leave it unattended, soon it is difficult to nevigate. Is it only your garden that gets filled with undesirable stuff like thorns and thistles? Why is it that the paths of one’s life are clogged up with thorns and thistles? Again, it is not due to your bad horoscope or anything but your hands:“The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway”. (Proverbs 15:19)
• Finally your dream came true: you worked hard so at the age 40 you are ready to retire. Does this mean that you can let your hands go idle? I know you know the answer, so work even harder now than ever. :-<  Ecclesiastes 11:6.

So here the poem goes: I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 24:30-34 ESV)

P.S. The real problem in dealing with you a sluggard is that a sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who are wise counselors. Proverb 26:16. So it is written: Go to the ant you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!" Proverbs 6:6

In the beginning...(Genesis 1:1)



For the world's biggest eye in the sky, click here!!!!

Master the Book of Revelation in One Minute !!!

One Minute Bible Study to master all the high mountains and deep, dark, and dreadful valleys of the Book of Revelation.

That is right! Just in one minute!

1 John 5:1-5 state that it is through our faith in the Lord that we can ‘overcome’.

At the outset of the Book the glorified Jesus says that to the one who overcomes he is going to give him the right to sit with him on His throne (3:21).

Towards the end of the book, Jesus says, “He who overcomes will inherit all this.” 21:7

1. The first chapter of the book describes the vision of the One who overcame, that is, Jesus Christ in a glorified state.
2. Chapters 2 and 3 describe the members of the church who are called to overcome by faith in Him.
3. In Chapter 4 is seen the preview of the ones who overcame in worship.
4. Chapters 5-20 are the casualties and gleanings
5. Last two chapters (21,22) represent the outcome the ones who overcame are going to inherit.

"To be or not to be, that is the question" is the opening line of a soliloquy in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. However according to the Apostle John, “to overcome or not to overcome, that is the question.” Similarly Paul says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Thus the Spirit says to the church:

1. “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (2:7b).
2. “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. 2:11 (21:8)
3.  To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. 2:17
4.  To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. 2:26
5. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 3:5
6. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 3:12
7. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 3:21

What do you think?

P.S. For different views of ent times, click here. Send an email to attention: isaac h. kim, at 'hdk121@gmail.com' to find ways to avoid confusion on the end time theories.

What is wisdom? - Ten Different Views

What is wisdom? • Online dictionary: The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of such experience, knowledge, and good judgment. • Will Durant: total perspective, seeing an object, event, or idea in all its pertinent relationships. Spinoza defined wisdom as seeing things sub specie eternitatis, in view of eternity; I suggest defining it as seeing things sub specie totius, in view of the whole. • Wikipedia: Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions (the "passions") so that universal principles, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one's actions. Wisdom is also the comprehension of what is true or right coupled with optimum judgment as to action. Synonyms include: sagacity, discernment, or insight. • Peter Russell: Its essence is discernment. Discernment of right from wrong. Helpful from harmful. Truth from delusion. • Charles Spurgeon: Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. • J. I. Packer: Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. Wisdom is, in fact, the practical side of moral goodness. As such, it is found in its fulness only in God. He alone is naturally and entirely and invariable wise. • John Piper: Wisdom is the practical knowledge of how to attain that happiness. Therefore, wisdom is hearing and doing the Word of God. In the Biblical sense, wisdom is the "ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding" • Job: “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom” (Job 28:28) • Psalmist: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). • Paul: Christ is the wisdom of God(1Co 1:24,30). Wisdom consists of righteousness, holiness, and redemption. In Jesus Christ are ‘hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ (Col 2:3) What do you think?

Your Kingdom Come (Bible U.S.A. World Campus Mission)

Where does the U.S. stand as a nation (or a city on a hill)? The Scritpures (Deuteronomy 28) says if u obey the Lord fully, you will be always at the top, never at the bottom, for the Lord will put you high above all nations. For example, you will always lend to many nations, but borrow from none. So far, U.S. is the "largest debtor nation" [click!!!!!] here on earth. [According to the USA Today June 7, 2011, unfunded U.S. obligations and entitlements reached 61.1 trillion. Of the U.S. debts owed to foreign countries, China remains at the top as the largest creditor nation holding close to 25% of the federal debts. For the last ten years, U.S. budget deficit kept increasing (2002 - 194 billion; 2012 – 1.3 trillion)] China may beat the U.S. back to the moon. [In 2006, 80,000 engineers were working for the NASA and its contractors, whereas in July 2008, in China 200,000 engineers were working on a space program. Note: in 2006, China graduated 500,000 engineers, whereas the U.S. 70,000. Of the 70,000 graduates, 40% are foreign students of which about 50% are Chinese most of whom do not stay in the U.S. According to Frank Wolf the U.S. Congressman, if the U.S. becomes weakened financially the world would be a lot more dangerous place to live in, for a lot of gangbaner nations are out there to destroy not just the U.S. but those who are less endowed. What do you think?

Why the repetition? (Prayer for North Korea)

Download this mp3 from Beemp3.com

Proverb 14:12 reads, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Does the message seem clear? Or did you get the message? Just in case you are not sure, or you did not get the message, consider Proverb 16:25 which also reads, "There is a way taht seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Why the repetition?

Mark 10:45

To be a leader means 7 rebirths of a servant.

Bible Philippines and World Campus Mission (featuring UP at Los Banos)

UPLB offers 27 undergraduate and 82 graduate degree programs through its nine colleges and two schools.Majority of the programs award science degrees. It also awards high school diplomas through the University of the Philippines Rural High School (UPRHS), a subunit of the College of Arts and Sciences, which acts as a laboratory for its BS Math and Science Teaching students.

The College of Arts and Sciences has the largest student population and the largest number of undergraduate degree programs, while the College of Forestry and Natural Resources has the least number of programs (one).

BS Agricultural Biotechnology, introduced in 2010, is UPLB's newest undergraduate degree program.Several degree programs that have been proposed include Chancellor Aspiras's BA History, BA Political Science and BS Landscape Horticulture, and National Scientist Teodulo M. Topacio Jr.'s comparative medicine program.

Why do you want to eat the Bible

 Happy New Year!

I am glad to meet all of you. It is always exciting to meet new friends because of all the creations, each human being is the crown of God's creation. And each person is different. No two persons are the same. Each person is God's master piece.

Today we would like to think about why we ought to study the Bible.

I came from Los Angeles. I attended a conference in S. Africa. Then before I came to Manila, Dr. Paul Koh asked me to talk about why we need to study the Bible. I think this is an excellent question, for studying the Bible is the key to knowing who we are and what we are.

In this world there are many books. But unlike all other books in this world, the Bible is different than all of them in that its author is God himself. God is the Creator of all men. So since God is the Creator, and he gave us the Bible, when we study the Bible, we can know who we are and what we are.

Figuratively speaking the Bible is the owner's manual of life - the manual that helps us understand what our life is all about.

I am not sure how many people in this room own a cell phone. If you buy a cellular phone, the manufacturer provides you with an owner's manual. Before you use it, you read the owner's manual. Then you can enjoy the cellular phone better.

The Bible is just like the owner's manual for life. Unlike a cellular phone, man's life is a lot more sophisticated than any other machines. In fact you and I are more sophisticated than all the computers combined.

Although man's life is more sophisticated and delicate than any creatures, the Bible has a wonderful way for us to understand really good what our life is all about. And today we would like to think about this wonder of God by reading one Bible passage that is, John 5:39. Let us open the Bible and read the passage.

            You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.

Notice here that Jesus is talking to his Bible students. This passage says that the Lord God designed the Bible in such a way that we can easily understand not just what our life is all about but also the way to have life that is 'eternal'. And the Lord God did this by presenting to us the Son of God called Jesus.

In John 5:39 Jesus shared two points: point no. 1 -- by studying the Scriptures (the Bible) you possess eternal life. That is right. The Bible shows us how to have the eternal life.

Point no. 2 -- the Lord God gives you eternal life through His Son Jesus. That is what Jesus means by saying, "these scriptures testify about me." So the Bible is all about Jesus Christ through whom we receive eternal life as a gift.

There is one supreme example to understand how it works. Let us go to the book of Numbers 25 and read it responsively.

Now let us focus on Numbers 25:13 which reads,

            "He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."

In this passage we see something very interesting: The Israelites committed the sin of sexual immorality, right? Due to sins committed, God caused the plague to spread, so people started to die. And the number increased like 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and the plague did not stop, so the casualties increased to even 24,000.

Imagine 24,000 people dying in a matter of few days!

Then, all of sudden the plague stopped. Why? We know the answer. Phinehas killed the Israelite and the Midianite woman in holy anger. Here a question arises: why did this act of holy anger stop the plague? What is so special of his holy action? We find the answer to this question in "a covenant of a lasting priesthood". As Jesus mentioned the covenant of a lasting priesthood testify about Jesus the Son of God. Phinehas the son of Aaron the priest is the pre-figure of Jesus the true Priest. Priest stands between God and sinners. Standing between the two, the priest makes peace so God and sinners can reconcile the differences. Then as the two restore a peaceful relationship with each other, God who is the source of eternal life gives the forgiven sinners eternal life.

So just as Phinehas in holy anger intervened, and the plague stopped, so also about 2000 plus some years ago, our Lord Jesus came Israel, and in his holy zeal to honor God's name, he offered died for our sins on a tree. He was sinless. You know sin grieves God so much that he cannot bear even a hint of sin. So he cannot help put punish the sinners not because he hates man, but he hates sin. Jesus understood God's holy character, so instead of leaving God to murder all sinners and send them to eternal hell fire, He offered himself as an atoning sacrifice for all the sins of all the sinners. So for all who sincerely repent of their sins, believe in Jesus, and turn to God by faith in God's sin-forgiving love, God not only forgives them of their sins but also cleanses them of their sins, so they would no longer sin, but leave the life of sin, and have eternal life in Jesus.

In John 3:16, the Lord God explained the way of eternal life more fully, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Today then we learned two things: first in order to possess the eternal life we need to study the Bible; second, we can find the eternal life in and through Jesus.

Now here is the homework for you because the Bible is all about Jesus whom God sent to give you the eternal life, you must diligently study the Bible, knowing that all the Scriptures testify about Jesus who came to give you eternal life.

Conclusion: the Scriptures testify about Jesus. God sent Jesus to give us eternal life. So let us study the Bible diligently to know more about Jesus who came to give us eternal life.

A good and faithful servant

A good and faithful servant

Matthew 25:14-30

Key Verse 25:21

I am glad that we could gather here in a new mission field Bagio and have a Sunday worship service.

The Asian Directors' Conference is over. At the conference we received God's words. We chose to serve the Lord as at first. We are also ready to explore the Promised Land and take possession of it by faith. We also ask God for a double portion of Elijah's Spirit. Now in our mission field how can we practically serve the Lord and bear good fruit for him? Seven points deserve our attention: 

First, settling accounts

let us read v. 19. "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them." This passage refers to the judgment day to come. We do not know when Jesus will come back. But he will come back for sure. When he comes back, he will 'settle accounts' with all of us. He will take a look at what we have done with what he gave us.

Most of us here are seniors. Those who are senior have one common problem: no one asks him or her to do this or to do that. Because you are a senior, no one comes to say, "Hey, why don't you go out for fishing?" So we tend to relax. But we must remember that our Lord Jesus is our master. He will come and settle accounts. When we are aware of this day of reckoning, we cannot relax and goof around. And I think this is first and foremost important point for us to remember in living a fruitful life.

Second, using the time wisely

Look at v. 14. "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them." When we think about this passage together with v. 19, we can easily understand that we have a limited period of time to work for the Lord. Our Lord Jesus died and rose again more than 2000 years ago. We do not know when he will return. In the meantime as we wait for his return we have a limited time to work for the Lord.

As of this year, I am 63 years old. I realize that my time is more limited than the time all of you have. So I think I need to make the most use of the time. 

Third, using the resources the Lord gave us

In v. 14 we see the word property. In other verses we see the words 'talents', for some received more some less. But everyone received something. Most importantly we received the gospel. Gospel is the treasure of all treasures. It comes with all surpassing power that is from God. With the gospel we are called to use all of our other resources and work to save souls into the family of God.

What is important here is to know that at least God gave each of us something to work with, and God wants us to use what we have, not what we do not have.

Another point for us to consider here is that God wants us to use 'all' of our resources, not some of the resources. To some he gave 5 talents, some 3 some 1. The one who received 5 ought to use all 5, not just 4 or 3 or 2 or 1. We can understand this concept from the expression "according to his ability."

Some do not know what he or she is able. Some know what they are able, but due to their sin problems, they let their talents go idle. Either way, as one deeply repents and turns himself to God,  God fills him with His Spirit who in turn empowers him to do what he was otherwise unable.

Personally as I grow old, I used to think weak thoughts saying, "Oh, you are getting old. You cannot do things as well as you used to do." But as I prayed I realized that this idea is only a human thought. It is not a faithful thought. So I learn that daily I need to repent of my own human thoughts, and live by faith in Him, for the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Fourth, overcome the habit of procrastinating

Look at v. 15, "To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey." Let us take a note of the phrase 'at once'. This phrase reminds me of the loss I suffered during my journey to S. Africa then to the Philippines. Because of the bad habit of procrastination I suffered two important losses.

Each time I subscribe to a program on the Internet such as Dropbox.com utility, I know I need to write down the UserID and the password. But I procrastinate. Then when I try to log in next time, I do not remember. So I had to reset the ID or Password all over again. This happened so many times. So finally I prepared a small notebook where I wrote down all of my UserID and Passwords. Overtime the number of ID's and Passwords grew, so  more than two pages got filled up. Then, as I embarked on the  journey, I said to myself, "You must make a copy of the notes". Normally it would take a few minutes. But I procrastinated and procrastinated. Then I packed my bags where I put the notes containing all the UserId's and passwords. I put them in a file folder. And lo and behold. At the S. African Directors' Conf. Site, I lost the folder.

The same thing happened to me in regard to the note I took down at the S. African Directors' Conference. There after the regional directors' meetings, they came up with the programs. They put all the programs in a piece of paper and distributed. That night I had the urge to sit down and write a detailed journey report based on the information I wrote down on the paper. But I procrastinated, and procrastinated. Finally when I came to Dr. Paul Koh's UP UBF Bible center, I thought the time came for me to work on the report. It was last Tuesday. In the morning Dr. Paul went out to Manila to visit a sheep who is in a hospital. I was left by myself, and I sat down to work on a report. Then I looked, and looked. I looked everywhere, and the paper was gone. I lost it. I don't know where I put it. This is what happened when you procrastinate. You think now is not the right time to do God's work. You might think now is not the right time to go out fishing. Or now is not the right time to do any work of God. So you procrastinate, procrastinate, and procrastinate. Then by the time you think finally the time came, you know it is too late.

Let me share with you the story of Byung Cheol Lee the founder of Sam Sung Company. He died at the age of 77. At the age of 75 he contracted a cancer. So he was hospitalized. He saw the time for him to die down the road. So he pulled out a piece of paper and there he wrote down 24 questions in life. The questions included: 'Does God exist? If God exists why does he not reveal himself? If indeed God exists why does he allow so many problems like cancer or death in this world? The Bible says, it is harder for a rich person to go to heaven than a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Is it evil to be rich?" He neatly wrote down the 24 questions in five pages of letter size. He handed over the notes to his secretary asking him to deliver the notes to a Catholic priest, so he could answer the questions. The priest was pleased to see the questions. So he worked on each of them. Then he could have contacted the chairman earlier than ever. But he procrastinated, and procrastinated. Finally after two years, he was ready and he set up an appointment with the chairperson. But two hours before the time of appointment the chairman died at the hospital. He died without having the opportunity to hear the gospel.  

Fifth, being faithful with a few things

Look at v. 21. "His master replied,' Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

Here, the expression 'a few things' is the key. It has been said, "small thing is not small"; in fact all that are great consist of a number of small things. God does everything well for he is faithful to what is truly truly small.

As I sit at the Dr. Paul Koh's Bible center, I saw a lot of ants crawling up and down. And these ants are truly small. As I thought about them I realize that they are truly diligent. They are hard workers. They work hard. Compared with what they do I realized that I am a fat lazy person. I am so called a human being the crown of creation. Yet, when I go lazy, doing nothing with what God has given, what good is my life?

So I repented and started writing a sunday message that after noon. Then Dr. Paul Koh came back from the trip. Then all of sudden outside at the unit next to the Dr. Paul Koh's Bible house, students gathered and started making noise. Then, Dr. Paul Koh asked me to share with them the ball pens the gifts Downey UBF coworkers gave. I stopped working on the message, went out and asked each of them if they want to have a Bible study. All of them said, "Yes." Then I gave them ball pens. They are all UP students. And I took a picture with them.

Sixth, understanding master's happiness

In v. 21, after commending the good work for the good and faithful servant, the master said, "Come and share your master's happiness.ness!" This is the reward of all rewards. Salvation of one lost soul is the source of true happiness. We see the same joy of the father of a prodigal son. When the prodigal son came back the father was so joyful that immediately he opened a banquet. Similarly in Luke 15:10 Jesus says, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." So the Lord God wants to save one lost soul. And no joy is greater than the joy the Father has in saving one lost soul.

Seventh, overcoming fear of loss

Last, but not least point in living a fruitful life is to overcome the fear of loss. Look at vs. 24-25  "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'" In this passage the lazy and wicked servant made many excuses. But the real problem he had seems to be the fear of loss. He did not want to lose. So he hid it.

This fear of loss expresses itself in many different ways. One is the fear of failure. In Downey we have a Bible center. At first it was a Greek Restaurant. The owner was a Greek. He defaulted on the loan. The lender was not a bank but a lawyer. The man foreclosed on the property. A lot of people wanted to buy the property for the price and location were all good. But, not all could make an offer, for even after you open an escrow, put up a deposit, still you need to stand in line with other bidders. And if any one with bidding a higher bid shows up, you lose the whole deal. Then by faith I put up a deposit, and stood in line. Then the day of auction came. Then no one showed up to compete with me. So we could acquire the title.

The same is true with fishing sheep or going out to a mission field by faith. Personally I thank God for the missionaries operating in the Philippines. This mission field comes with lots of difficulties. So not many people make a move. But by faith some missionaries came to this land. May the Lord bless them to share the gospel and build the ministry of God thirty times, sixty times and even a hundred times.

One word: good and faithful servantA good and faithful servant