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Home > Fellowship Plaza Apt. A202 |
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When during my job as a pastor, there are certain things I must do that are difficult. One is a request was through one of the laymen who had request to preside wedding for an unbeliever. It was against my rule and wishes, but I had met with that couple for about 6 times to educate them for the wedding. I had to teach them how to have a proper wedding, and a happy one as well, it was through God’s blessing, and in order to receive that, they had to believe in Jesus. Most people would say what the importance with the 6 meetings and would just decline the request.
Another is when someone from the laymen would give a name of other laymen who isn’t quite ready to serve a position, to give them a job as a leader within the church. It is important and necessary to have a proper thinking and life to serve the Lord. But in order to become a leader, they must have training in the heart and mind with Jesus’ style of life. Instead of having a life and value of the world, just because the laymen have a name within the community, or have good financial life, it won’t just do to become a leader. Some of the laymen who know my feeling would say, “Pastor, fishes do not live within clear water.” Or say “they might move to another church instead.”
Despite having retired from church, I had formed a small group to raise new workers unto Christ. For some time now, I have met with several people who have unbelieving friends to how to pass the good news to them. One of them was someone who was not as healthy, and would often sit in front of the garage when the family members leave for work. I would often visit to pray and pass the good news, but the man despite being open hearted, the person refused to become Christian and time passed by.
Several times I would visit to see and noticed the person was not in the house, even if I knocked. Later I learned that the person got better and was starting to go to work. But around late May, I heard news from their friend that the man had tragically passed away from tripping in the garage.
Another thing that makes pastor work difficult is when an unbeliever passes away and there is a funeral request for it. The man that passed away tragically without serving the Lord was one case. 3 days after the death, there was a request for help in the funeral service. It wasn’t from the family member but through someone from our group. The wife of that man used to go to church, but for a long time she had not gone to church, nor did she serve her faith so it was hard for her to find a pastor for such. The funeral was to be either set in Christian or not, and decided I was for the job.
Knowing that life is short, and that God has given life and to have a meaningful life with it, and for God to have sent his only son to save us from death, finally homing onto the message of grace with having everlasting life. I had lived in the United States for 35 years, but lived in Silicon Valley for 25 years alone. I assumed that I would have known many people around the funeral service, but out of the 60 or so visitors, I only knew about 2 of them as acquaintances. It was a lasting impression of how many people do not follow in the Christ’s path.
A day after the funeral, I was about to head out for my daily early morning walk with my wife, and upon opening the door I found a fresh bright red cactus flower on a beautiful plastic plate! Many thoughts had flashed in my mind; maybe a family member had left the flower there? But that would be not possible, since they do not know where I reside. Also because the lobby of the apartment cannot be opened by outsiders. Perhaps another Korean resident who lives here that grows cactus gave the flower? After the walk, despite looking at all the flowers within the Korean community there, no one grew it. Turns out later either from building B 2nd floor which is in front of us, or from far away building D apartment’s 3rd floor Chinese resident had given the flower. There isn’t any Korean who grows such cactus, only two places. I do not even know that person either.
For the unknown reason, I am grateful since during the funeral I was all tense, and the flower was such a gracious gift. Since the flower was so beautiful, and mesmerizing, I took a commemorative picture of the flower.
(June 18th, 2015)
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The pair of Geese that left… 
A red cactus flower