Pastor James' Blog

As I write this tonight, we are about one week away from saying goodbye to this decade (2000-2009) and starting a new one.  What are some highlights of this decade that you remember most?  Is it the Y2K scare?  9-11?  Perhaps it’s the advent of Facebook or Twitter.

Well as I reflect on this past decade, I can only come to the conclusion that this decade was a decade of experiencing new heights with God for me.  So much can change in ten years.  The world saw the end of tube TV’s and the start of flat and flatter TVs, YouTube is a sensation, TSA and security are in and pretzels/peanuts are out on air travel, Bono became known more as a human justice proponent than a singer, we went from analog to digital cameras, ieverything has become the hit in technology, video games are now controlled by motion not just a control pad, the economy went from Bull to Bear,  we sadly saw the end of the 49ers dynasty and the start of the Patriots one, churches are now not talking about mega but multi-site, and we now have the first minority American President.

Ten years does not seem like a long time, but you can clearly see the amount of change that can take place in those short ten years.  As I look back on the past decade, so much has changed for me personally.  I got married, started full-time pastoral position at church, moved cross country twice, had three children (expecting a 4^th), became Lead Pastor of a church, personally discipled over 140 people (close to 50 are currently either in or pursuing full-time ministry), own the one vehicle I said I would never own (minivan), finished seminary, started doctorate studies, He has connected me to my two spiritual mentors/fathers (Dr. Gary Cook and Rev. Daniel Park), I flew over 370,000 flight miles, gained 7 inches on my waist, 0 inches to my height, and went from dominating in sports to being dominated.  A lot can change in ten years!

I am so grateful to God for the past ten years.  As I reflect back, He has brought me closer to Him than ever before.  God’s hands were clearly all over my life the past decade.  Once I committed my life to Him, His footprints were all over my life and He has guided me and grown me so much.

As I reflect on this, I cannot imagine what the next ten years will look like.  Wow!  I am so excited to see all that God has in store for me, for my family and for our church.  At 2020, I will be 47 years old; my oldest daughter will be 16 and learning to drive and will still be told to stay away from boys.  I wonder how much more closer I will be with God then.  I cannot imagine all the people God will bring my way so that I can serve and point them in God’s direction and then to see what God will do through them and our church.  It seems like this will be so far away, but when I look back at the past ten years, it all went so fast.

Life moves fast!  Live the moment!  Repent of your wicked ways and turn back to God (2 Chronicles 7:14).  Serve and love Him.  Be good to your family and love God with all your heart (Matthew 22:36-38).  There can be amazing and great changes for you too in ten short years.  It’s already happened to me.  A lot can change and so can you.  Live your life to the fullest for God and for His Kingdom.  Love you guys!

It’s been a while since I last updated my blog.  I am actually updating this from Los Angeles.

Last night, I really sensed that I needed to have deep communion with the Lord.  In my prayer time, God reminded me how much He loves me.  He said He never has stopped loving me and that He has given me special gifts to touch His heart and the heart of others.  So He says to me, “Go!  Be strong and courageous.  I am always with you.”

I was reminded of what Pastor Bob Hartley said when he said that there are 4 stages of worship.  I might not represent his words well, but he said something to the nature that the first stage of worship is peace and that we ultimately move into communion with the Lord.

So many people go into worshipping the Lord and stop at peace, exaltation, or even revelation, but there is no communion, so they never really get to see the heart of God or know the inner depths of the character of God.  I’ve been traveling a bit lately and it might be exciting a few days, but then I realize that I am not in my bed.  I am not eating home-cooked meals.  I am not even driving my car!  After about two days, I am always ready to go home.  Once I get home and hug my wife and kids, I know “I’m home.”  Pastor Hartley says having communion with God is when you realize you are finally home.  You can now rest.

There are so many people who are so deceived by the enemy.  They have such little hope and no strength for life.  If you are reading this and you are one of those who have been lied to, know that God has never stopped loving you.  He cries over you.  He wants you to know the true freedom you have in Him.  Come back to God and find rest in Him.  Come home.  Have communion with Him.  He desires a deep relationship with you.  He’s not just interested in how you can serve Him; He wants you to know Him deeply.

I am praying that Higher Connection Church will always be a place where people can deeply meet God in such an intimate way.  I pray that those who have such little hope and strength will move doubt, fear, purposelessness, and emptiness out and move God to the center.  I cry so much when I see the enemy lying to God’s people and God’s people falling into those traps.  It is so not fair how Satan deceives so many.  I hope you will know that God is so good.

I am ready to go home.  What about you?  Come home now.  You have been on the road too long.  Put God in the center and move those lies out.  God is waiting for you.  He wants to embrace you.  He loves you.

I am praying for you.

October 23, 2009

To: Members of Higher Connection Church
From: Rev. James Byun

I am writing to you to thank everyone for their hard work and humble service yesterday with the Starfield Concert.

We had over 50 volunteer staff from HCC that helped with the concert!  It was amazing to see all the volunteer staff.  You all did such a great job!

At the end of the night, I had a chance to talk to the members of both Starfield and Article One and they expressed great gratitude for the volunteer staff.  Starfield said that they felt so honored and served by our staff.  Several people told me that it was one of the best organized church concerts they’ve ever been a part of.  They mentioned how everyone was so friendly.  The World Vision staff came up to me and said they were so touched by our church and wanted to thank me.  They came and looked for me before they left to say that!

Thank you all so much.  Many of you took a day off of work to help with this concert.  I have heard of people who hardly slept yet came and helped out.  I heard of people who were cramping because of all the walking back and forth to serve.  Many people came before 9 am and stayed very late at night.  Many of you stayed past midnight and made sure the church was “cleaner than we found it.”

We had people who are new to our church (within the last few weeks) and yet they still came and helped out.  About 20 of you paid for your tickets and did not even go into the concert so you could serve our guests.  You know who you are.  What amazing sacrifice!  Some of you brought calculators so you could make correct ticket and financial adjustments.  Some of you were sweating so much from carrying so many things!  We had security folks who I know are sore from trying to hold people from breaking down the doors.  One person served who wasn’t even a part of our church!  Many of you skipped meals so you could serve.  Others ate so fast so you could be back in time to help (some ate huge meals so you could be strengthened to serve)  So funny!  I am so grateful for all of you. 

Pastor Han and Peter Mun skipped meals so they could oversee ticket sales this week.  Pastor Han even came into to church and stayed all day Monday (his day off) so that people wishing to buy tickets on Monday had a body to serve them.  You may not have seen it, but these guys were juggling a million things all at once and they never stressed out.  They were always so cheerful!

I am so thankful for all our members and our pastoral staff!  May the Lord bless each of you!  I am thankful for Higher Connection Church!

Let’s continue to strive for His glory.  Let’s continue to ask the Lord, “What will bring you most glory” in everything we do and everything we say.  God’s Best to you all!

Your pastor,

Rev. James Byun
Lead Pastor

We are now only 2 days away from the Starfield concert.  Our church is busy with all the preparation work, but most of all, we are hoping that we can cover this night with much prayer and allow God to do His work.

We are having a special prayer meeting for Higher Connection members on Wednesday night at 7:30 just for this concert.  We are praying that the Lord will use Starfield and Article One to bring a renewed focus of worship to God.

Here are some links that you might find of interest:

http://www.higherconnectionchurch.org/starfield/
http://www.starfieldonline.com/
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=hwal&init=quick#/event.php?eid=144811260811&ref=mf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdhNnZPi814

I hope you will check out all of them, especially the last one.  It is so funny.

Let’s give Starfield a warm MD/VA/DC welcome this Thursday!

As promised in an earlier blog, here is a link with some pictures from the Joint Concert of Prayer that took place last month.

Enjoy!

http://bcmd.org/prayer-in-4-languages-asian-concert-of-prayer

Came across this yesterday and thought I would share it with HCC.  Greg Laurie is a pastor in So. Cal.  He has strong passion for discipleship.  Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=140259636247

This past Sunday, the HCC Body Worship team performed “There can be miracles” for the GMC/HCC Cell Festival.  About 650 people attended this festival celebration.  It was great!  Thank you to Grace Yoo and the entire HCC Body worship team!

For those who missed it, here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHsxw2TOkUw&feature=channel_page

Also, here is the Starfield promo clip.  Invite your friends.  Please note that public tickets sales will start this Thursday, October 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLN9EvmAmY&feature=channel

Thanks to Caroline N. for putting these together.

We are so excited to be able to host Starfield for a night of worship on Thursday, Oct. 22. 

I have been listening to a lot of Starfield’s songs to prepare for their concert and the more I listen to their music, the more I sense the presence of God in their lives.  From all of our interaction with the folks at Starfield, I can attest to their genuine heart for the Lord’s glory.  I truly sense that they want to make much of God, not Starfield.  More than a concert, I know this will be a night of worship to our living God!  I hope you can join us!

Their tour is titled “Reign in Us” after their song.  I absolutely love this song.  There is so much purity of the love of God in this song.

Here are a couple of Youtube clips of this song (the first link is the first time Starfield performed this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIa9j-jh3yc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dohj2QAdzs&feature=related

For more information about the Starfield Concert at Higher Connection and how to get tickets, please go to:  http://www.higherconnectionchurch.org/starfield/

For more information about Starfield, go to: http://www.starfieldonline.com/

God has been giving me a heart for pastors and so if you are a pastor in Maryland, we have a limited number of tickets that we are giving to local pastors for free (actually, it will be paid by our church).  Please email my assistant, Peter Mun at: peter@higherconnectionchurch.org  if you are a pastor in Maryland (please include your church name) to get your ticket.  It is first come first serve until we run out.

Our church has started on a special campaign of repentance.  For 40 days, we will pray, meditate, and repent over one area of our lives per day.  At the end of 40 days, it is our hope that our souls and lives will be awakened and healed of the junk that fills our lives and keeps us from the glory of God.  We did not build this campaign up.  We did not do any mass advertising within the church.  We had only day of sign-ups for this yet 62 members of HCC have decided to take on this call towards repentance.

As of this writing, we are on day 5 of our repentance.  Today’s theme is to repent of the Spirit of Rebellion.  Last night in my prayer time, I realized how I utterly failed on Day 4’s topic.  Day 4 was to repent from unthankfulness.  I had such a busy day and it was filled with so much little things to do.  I was hoping to work on my sermon, but was not able to.  I started getting irritated at the amount of little things I had to do.

I was at a meeting that went into the evening and the meeting place was about 1.5 hours from my home and I just dreaded the drive back home.  I dreaded being at this meeting.  I dreaded how I had so little time to prepare for my sermon for Sunday.  Even as I was thinking these things, I received a phone call last night and there will be even more added responsibilities that I need to take on.  My heart was just not in the right place.  I knew that I should be thankful for all these opportunities, but all I could think of was how I would handle all the added work. 

Even when I got home, Heather was in a prayer meeting with some sisters from our church so I had the duty of putting our kids to sleep.  To my surprise, all three of the kids went to sleep very quickly and I was so glad and decided to open up a couple of commentary books so I could study for my sermon this week.  Within 10 minutes of opening the books, the sounds of my two daughters jumping on their beds filled the house.  So, I went up to their room, scolded them and proceeded to put them to sleep.  After a tough 1.5 hours, they finally went to bed.  Whew!

It was close to 11 p.m. at this time and I was already dead tired.  I just thought that I would just go to sleep at that point when I hear Joshua, my son, crying and crying.  He somehow woke up.  Oh no!  It was back to the drawing board.  I then went to his room and proceeded to put him to sleep.  After another 40 minutes, all three kids were all finally asleep.  As I was getting ready to sleep, I realized that Heather and I did not have our nightly prayer time.  We are currently doing a special 21 Day Joint Prayer together for our church.  So, we pray and I realize that it is well past 12:30 a.m. at this point.

Needless to say, I did not have a “thankful” heart.  So my prayer last night was, “God, forgive me.  I wanted to repent today of not having a thankful heart, but I failed miserably today.  I was not thankful at all.  I should be so thankful that you are extending my territory to do ministry.  I should be thankful that you keep giving me new ideas to implement at church.  I should be thankful that I can spend those great moments of putting my kids to sleep for you know how fast they grow up.  I am so sorry, God.  Please forgive me.  I was doing so well up until now.  I was doing so well on repenting up to today.  Sorry for my attitude.  Allow me always to be thankful.”

Then, the Lord speaks to me and says, “James, even the fact that you thought that you were doing so well means that you failed Repentance Day 3.”  The topic for Repentance Day 3 was Pride.  I immediately laughed like crazy!  God is so funny, but SO right.  Repentance is so hard.  Is it hard for you too?

God loves those who repent.  God loves those who draw closer to Him.  I truly believe God called David a man after His own heart because David was a man of repentance (Psalm 51).

I realize that Satan hates repentance.  When God’s people repent, Satan goes nuts.  He pulls out all the tricks.  He will attack you to make sure you do not continue with repentance.  Everything might be peaceful and as soon as you start repenting, everything goes wrong and everything seems chaotic.  I hope and pray that you will have spiritual eyes to see that this is the kind of battle we face.  God is with you.  Do not fear.  Keep repenting and praying before the Lord.  No matter how much noise Satan makes, he’s like a little kitten with a lion’s roar in the sight of God.  God is gracious to hold and keep you.  Trust in Him.  I pray for powerful God-pointing hearts during our 40 Days of Repentance.  I’m praying for you!