Lifelight Church

Henri Nouwen, a respected biblical scholar, was captivated by the painting, and upon visiting the Hermitage, spent two days just staring at the painting. He later wrote a book on it. He called it A Story of Homecoming. What do you see when you look upon this stunning work of Rembrandt about a story told by someone in the first century which we read in Luke 15? What does homecoming mean to you?

In the 90s, there was this scam by Columbia House, the music/movie reproduction company. Some of you may remember. I got an ad in the mail that said "6 CDs for 99c!" You must understand why this was so exciting - compact disc was the thing of the future! So to see that I can have six CDs for less than a dollar was a great news! I signed up immediately, picked out my 6 CDs and couldn't wait to receive them in the mail. Wrapped up in the excitement, I completely overlooked the fine print - I had to buy six more CDs at overly priced cost within 2 years (it's much worse but I won't explain it here). The lesson learned: read the fine print!

I don't know if you've noticed yet but Luke really likes parties; dinner parties, feasts, banquets, etc. As a matter of fact, Luke ends his Gospel with a dinner scene. And so far we've seen on many occasions Jesus at dinner table, feast, and wedding. Even many of Jesus' parables are centered around dinner parties and banquets - more are coming; you know the ones like the Prodigal Son (banquet) and the rich man and Lazarus (banquet). It's good thing we all like parties - especially the one with good food. Be happy - according to the Bible, there'll be lots of dinner parties in heaven starting with the Great Banquet.

The first time I tried out for the varsity soccer team, I remember how my friends and I were wondering and asking each other the question: how many are gonna make the team? Some of you experienced the same, trying out for the varsity football, volleyball, or baseball. Actually, I bet most of you have experienced the same; applying for college (how many applicants will be accepted), rushing for a fraternity/sorority, job interviews (how many will they hire), trying to buy concert tickets (how many tickets are left), waiting for a table at Cheese Cake Factory ('nough said), waiting in line to buy the latest iPhone (how many are in stock). You get what I'm getting at. It's a common question in life in which we struggle to deal. In essence, we are asking, "am I going to make it?"

I think that ambitious people, whether godly or secular, struggle the most with patience. If you're a godly ambitious person (there was a sermon about this not too long ago), and i hope you are, you're anxious to do a great thing for God - serve in a big church, do a long mission trip to Africa, reach thousands of people, start a huge revival, buy a camp for Young Life, whatever. Same goes for secularly ambitious people - become a CEO, start up a promising company, invent something, change the world... somehow, etc. The struggle with patience is then to deal with little things we do for God; like smiling at a stranger across the table, forgiving a person who stepped on your foot in MUNI, helping an elderly cross the street, forgiving a friend, listening to a brother/sister in the community, helping out at YL Chins events* (hint, hint), folding Sunday gathering brochures, etc.

As I read through Luke 12:49-13:9, I get a strong sense of stress and urgency in Jesus' voice. Maybe even a bit of venting and frustration. His voice shaking, spit coming out of His mouth, and maybe even the face turned red. To couple such tone of the voice, HIs words are of judgment and death. It's unreal. Most people would only imagine Jesus speaking in mild manner, totally calm, in soft, gentle tone, and speaking of love and grace. What happened to this Jesus? I wonder if you ever got to know the real Jesus. If you have yet to meet Jesus who claims to NOT have come to bring peace but division, a division that tears apart the most intimate relationships we truly hold dear, and is the bringer of crisis that presents hellish judgment, you obviously never read the aforementioned passage.

It's the new year, and as it is a habit (not a bad one), we try to plan out the year, with the new year's resolution and what not. Most of us were taught the importance of planning from early on. When you graduate school, people ask "so what's your plan for the future?" When you're in a job interview, you expect to be asked, "where do you see yourself in 5,10 & 15 years?" When you get a little older, it's about planning your retirement. Again, we are taught to plan.

Remember the time when Spider-Man quit? Maybe some of you aren't as familiar. Here's what happens. Spider-Man becomes all stressed out. The whole thing about hiding his identity and love from MJ, his best friend blaming Spider-Man for the murder of his father, losing jobs, and failing classes all because he has to to save lives and rescue people become too much to handle. "With great power comes great responsibility" but the responsibility and the power was too much to bear. So he quits. "I'm Spider-Man no more" he says, dumping the spidey suit in an alley. If you read Luke 12:13-34, this makes perfect sense. In fact, I think Stan Lee (creator of Spider-Man) got this plot from Jesus' teaching. Most of you know the parable and the teaching; a greedy rich man dies but takes nothing of his riches. Jesus tells us to not worry about what to eat, what to drink, don't stress out, etc. Jesus also says "you don't even have power to do little things; what worry then." It's true. Spider-Man, after giving up his power

It seems to me that "a confession of a bully" is something of a trend. So here I go. My name is Dan and I am a bully. I have been a bully since I was five - going as far back as I can remember actually. You might find that hard to believe; a five year old bully, but believe me, it starts that early. My daughter's kindergarten class had bullies. There was even a "queen bee" - a totally sweet, totally manipulative, totally naughty little b... oh, wait, you mean you find it hard to believe that I was a bully. Well, thank you. Believe it or not, I was a bad, bad bully until I was in 5th grade - something happened, a story I might tell you on another day. We all have either been a bully or have been bullied; at school, work, playground, home and church. Yes, even at church. Religious bullying goes far back. In Luke 12, Jesus have been encountering a few. But He says don't be afraid of bullies, be afraid of God; don't be afraid of death, be afraid of what comes after death. It's an "either or" statement/question

What is the worst thing you've been accused of? You meant to do good but someone turns it around and make you appear evil. Later, or just then, you discover that person's dislike of you, against whatever you were trying to do, or a selfish agenda in which you are in the way. Most of have experienced this. Could you believe that Jesus experienced the same? He cast out a demon which was tormenting a guy, and people accused Jesus of being a Satan's chief commander: Beelzebul, a.k.a. Lord of flies. We know that's as ridiculous as it gets but it was a serious deal when it happened. This Sunday, we are looking at Luke 11:14-36. While there are still a huge crowd surrounding Jesus, the tide is turning against Him. Those who watched Him from the distance and tested Him are now starting to get offensive. That's the nature of the Kingdom of God. The darkness cannot stand it. Is it in you, the darkness? Come, learn and celebrate the New Year, the season of Advent,