As Christians, We Need Community--Don't Navigate Life Alone! (Ecc. 4:7-12)

Image courtesy of facultyfocus.com

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Application

I remember when I was heading to South Korea for what I thought would be an experience of teaching and living in my own apartment for one year. Once I arrived and moved into my apartment, I was really excited. It was the first time I had ever lived by myself. The funny thing is that the school that I was going to work for hadn't been finished being built yet! I was in limbo for two weeks and living next door to an American guy who would be my coworker. However, after one week I was alone because I didn't have my family there and I didn't have a church yet. I was living in the city of Ulsan in 2003, where few people spoke English. I found out that my friend was raised a Christian, although he seemed like a nominal one at the time. I told him that if we don't find a church soon, then I am going to go crazy just because I feel so alone without any friends or a community. Thankfully, he went to a Korean church and found someone that spoke English and she told us there was an English service in the city! We started going to that church and the loneliness was gone!

Some people think they are street-smart and have the survival skills to endure the wilderness, go camping, and handle all of the wildlife. However, separating ourselves from the community is a sure way to fail. The wise author of Ecclesiastes (Solomon) said, "Two are better than one, because...one can help the other up" (4:9-10). Even with all of the messiness of sinners in the community, a Christ-honoring community is essential to thrive in life. We don't stand a chance against the trials and tribulations in this world if we try to tackle all of our problems on our own. Solomon said that someone who toils alone toils in vain (verse 8). Without community, we're more susceptible to danger (verses 11-12). The gift of a loving, Christ-focused community is one that not only provides encouragement but also gives us strength to thrive despite challenging situations. We need each other!

Reflect 

How can you commit to spending time with the family of believers? Who around you is isolated and in need? 

Pray

Father, thank you for the gift of community. We know that are are made to edify and encourage each other and not navigate this life alone.  Put it on my heart and let me know if there's someone that needs care right now. Maybe it's a phone call, a text, or asking if they need to get together for dinner. Please put this person in my heart. In your name, I pray, Amen.

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

View from Gateway Seminary after Huge Rainstorm

One week after a huge rainstorm that battered Southern California, which included 14 inches in the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys as well as 475 mudslides, the weather is beautiful and the mountains are dusted with snow.

If you want to go to the mountains and head for Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear, you will need chains this week. But most of us will just enjoy the sun and seeing the snow from a distance!

Scott Worden (The L.A. Seoul/Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

Uber Riders: If you Smell like Weed, Don't Expect a 5-Star Rating

 Listen to my story of when I had three people in my car between the ages of 19-25 get into my car smelling like they spent the whole day at a marijuana dispensary. I also have advice to both Uber drivers and Uber riders when this stuff happens:

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

Uber Drivers: Watch out for scammers!

I have been an Uber driver for over a year and most of my riders are pretty cool. But there are times when I thought to myself, "Wow, I really should've _____ " or "I really shouldn't have _______." One of those times happened recently when a rider wanted me to take them back to their home because he was too lazy to call another Uber. This required him to pay me upfront via cash or via Zelle or Venmo. Listen to my story on YouTube as to what mistake I made even though I was very careful:

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

Laguna Beach: My Favorite Beach in Southern California

 

Yes, Laguna Beach can get very congested on weekends and yes, trying to find parking can be quite the chore if you happen to arrive there at one in the afternoon on Saturday. But if you get there early enough, you will find a few good reasons to stay. There are some great art galleries that will inspire your creative side, good places to eat at in the heart of Laguna Beach, and some walking trails that are near the coastline just north of the center of Laguna.

 But the best part of Laguna Beach is the sunsets!

My wife and I arrived at 4:30pm on Sunday when most people were going home. We parked on a side street and walked two blocks down to the beach and we weren’t disappointed! God is an amazing artist!

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

Devotional: Proverbs 2:1-11

 

Store up God’s word in your heart

Do you long to know God better? Would you like to be wiser, more skillful and to have more knowledge and understanding?

Make a lifelong, daily habit of reading God’s word. The writer of Proverbs urges, ‘store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding… For wisdom will enter your heart’ (vv.1–2,10).

1. What do you need to do?
   ‘Store up’ God’s words within you (v.1). You need to ‘accept’ (v.1), listen and apply (v.2), ‘call out’ (v.3) and ‘search’ (v.4). ‘Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt’ (v.4, MSG). This takes time and commitment. Don’t just prioritise your schedule; schedule your priorities. Set aside a regular time to read the Bible and schedule it as a top priority.

2. What does God promise if you do this?
   You will ‘find the knowledge of God’ (v.5). ‘God gives out Wisdom free’ (v.6, MSG). Because of God’s character he ‘gives wisdom’ and ‘understanding’ (v.6), ‘victory’ (v.7), protection (v.8) and ‘discretion’ (v.11). He promises that God will ‘keep his eye on’ you (v.8, MSG) and ‘protect you, and… guard you’ (vv.8,11).

Lord, help me to continue to spend time with you each day and to apply the teachings of the Bible to my life.

Devotional Courtesy of: YouVerse Bible App

Photo Credit: David Mathis of desiringGod.org

Scott Worden

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

Greek is Killing Me!

 

Courtesy of Culture Trip

9/16/23

Dear Father, I pray right now because I feel very overwhelmed with Greek and it’s getting bad to the point that I’m complaining or sighing too much making my wife feel insecure. I feel like she should be more supportive but I also know that I need to be more confident that I can pass this class. And if I don’t, then I’ll just take the class again. Please help me to be stronger and not let Greek rule my life. I also pray that tomorrow we will get a head start and look at missionary jobs and get excited about it. Please also help us choose the right hotel to stay at in Richmond. I also pray that my wife can be more understanding and supportive in my challenging times. And once again please help me to be a stronger person so I can lead my wife well. In Jesus’s name I pray.

Amen

A Gateway Seminary Student's Take on Pride Month

 

Photo Courtesy: Flickr: Caro Wallis, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Where do you stand on the issue of Pride Month as a Christian? I go to a Southern Baptist seminary and all of my friends and professors from my seminary (Gateway Seminary in Ontario, California) claim that the Bible is the supreme authority in all matters. They all disagree that the LGBTQ+ lifestyle is something to take pride in. I have a few friends that attend an American Baptist church and agree with the mantra that "love is love" and God loves everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. They are ultra-Arminians and believe God will not judge them for how they love others. Well, here is my take:

First, you have to establish whether the LGBTQ+ lifestyle is a sin. As mentioned earlier, I have a few Christian friends that don’t hold the Bible as the ultimate authority and agree with their lifestyle and promote it. Of course, we should always welcome everyone to church and have them come as they are. God loves everyone! And the church should always welcome anyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or social status. 

However, once you get to church, the truth has to be spoken! The Bible is clear that there are only two genders and marriage is between a man and a woman. Jesus even quotes Genesis in Matthew 19:5 on the issue. 

What about homosexuality? We don’t even have to go back to Leviticus to realize that it’s a sin. You can read Romans 1:26, 1 Cor. 19:6, and Jude 7. It’s still a sin in the NEW covenant.

But wait. Aren’t we all sinners? Yes! We say God’s name in vain. We might disrespect our spouses when we get into arguments. We might have said something about someone behind their backs. I don’t condemn homosexuals to hell. That is between God and them. My job is to point them to the truth.

However, if you agree that we all sin and we need Jesus, then why would you promote a certain kind of sin and criticize me if I don’t agree with something that is contrary to Scripture? 

Why do I have to watch the news and see the glorification so blatant that if I disagree with it then there’s something wrong with me? Why are businesses such as Starbucks, Target, Bud Light, and professional sports teams caving to the 1%? They are afraid of losing money if they express disagreement and the media will destroy them. How is that fair in a country that honors freedom of speech and expression? You can express your beliefs but I can’t?

Why am I a bigot if I don’t want my baseball team showing an LGBTQ flag, an ideology I don’t stand for? If you believe the slogan “love is love” then where is the boundary of love? Just two days ago, a woman married her AI partner because she was in love with “him.” Love is love, right? That definition is subjective and dangerous. Do you notice how many pronouns there are now? Where does it end? If we keep letting ultra-liberals define what "love" is, then it'll be scary to see what society's blurred definition of it will be in 5 years?

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

I Quit Twitter and I Don't Regret it!

 Courtesy of musically.com

 I already spend too much time on social media (mostly on Facebook and sometimes on Instagram) that I needed to get rid of one kind of outlet that was a complete time waster. After thinking, praying, and debating about it, I finally decided to get rid of Twitter. Here are some of my reasons.

1. Out of all the social media platforms that I have used (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linked In), Twitter seemed to be the most narcissistic. People don't really care about others on there. They are just trying to get as many "likes" and "retweets" as possible. Of course, that's not saying people don't want to get "likes" and comments on Facebook, but you usually do anyway since your family and friends are the ones to comment. On Twitter, most people are complete strangers, so you rely on complete strangers for affirmation.

2. Sometimes you will tweet something that you think people will like and many times you will get absolutely no retweets or "likes." If you're not extremely popular or slightly famous on Twitter, you will have this problem often.

3. If you are following someone, you see accounts that they follow since Twitter suggests them to you. But if those accounts don't appeal to you, you still see them because the person tweeted something from it or liked it. It's extremely annoying.

4. You see almost too much of what's wrong with the world on Twitter in REAL TIME. You can easily become negative and hate the world when you see all of the junk happening minute-by-minute and this is the main reason I jumped off Twitter.

Don't get me wrong. Twitter is very addictive and I see a lot of things I like about it (sports, weather, and up-to-date news is great to follow on Twitter), but for me personally, I am too busy and I don't want to get caught up in the negative aspects of Twitter. Facebook takes up too much of my time already and I want to use the rest of my free time on more useful things. 

So why don't I get rid of Facebook? As much as Facebook is a time waster (and it really can be sometimes), I just recently found two advantages that Facebook has more than any other social media outlet. 

1. Last week, I visited my high school alma mater to get my vaccination records and I ran into my old art teacher (who I was already keeping in touch with on Facebook). We hugged and although she was helping students and in a bit of a hurry, I posted on her timeline when I got home. She responded and asked why I stopped by and apologized that she didn't have more time to talk to me. And to add to this, my Bible teacher from the same high school (who I have also kept in contact with) commented in the thread that it must have been very special for us to see each other. That's one huge benefit of Facebook.

2. I recently got a message from an old friend who I went to church with in Seoul. She said she is coming out to L.A. in July and is trying to get together with some people and have a church reunion with friends living in L.A. that went to the same church as her in Seoul. She remarked that the pastor who married my wife and I is going to be there at the reunion as well. She told one of my close friends on Facebook as well and I think there will be a total of 10-11 people at the reunion. This is the power of Facebook. 

So there you go. Facebook has a lot of disadvantages, but these two reasons are pretty much why I keep Facebook. Twitter, on the other hand, doesn't have a whole lot of advantages except being informed early on the news. But since I can get my news elsewhere without being triggered, I don't really need Twitter.

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

4 Important Lessons From the Book of Genesis

 

I found this really great article about the 4 Important Lessons from the Book of Genesis by Alex Lago on medium.com. I really like it because it's easy to understand, biblically sound, and perfect for understanding what's going on in today's society. Let me know what you think below!

1. We are All Created In God’s Image

At the beginning of the world, God created heaven and Earth. God then created light and divided it into night and day. Throughout a series of six days, God went to make the firmament, waters, dry land, plants, animals, and finally, man.

Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle and over all the earth (Genesis 1:26 KJV).

This should be comforting to everyone because our Lord created us to be like him. While it could be debated whether we were created in the likeness of the soul and body, there is no doubt that our ability to think rationally is something that no other being on the planet possesses. This rational thinking is most definitely a divine spark that brings us closer to our creator.

Whenever I have the option between sinning and doing the right thing, I remind myself of this message — that I can choose to be closer to my creator or I can dishonor him.

Also, when I do not think I am good enough to do something, I find comfort in the fact that I have been created in the image of my great Father — which means nothing is out of my reach.

In addition, this section also teaches us that humans have dominion over all other animals. But this should not give us the license to act recklessly, rather, it should remind us about the beautiful gifts we were given and our responsibility to care for these gifts. In the same way that God loves us, we should love our Earth and its inhabitants.

2. We Are Inherent Sinners

As a result of original sin, all humans have the tendency to do evil. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and listened to the serpent, it solidified our imperfect nature. Humans now know good and evil and we were sent out of the Garden of Eden and stripped of our immortality.

Adam’s sons, Cain and Abel, also exemplify the imperfection of man. Cain gave the Lord fruit from the ground while Abel gave the Lord an offering from his animals. God respected Abel’s offering more, so out of jealousy, Cain killed Abel. As a result, sin has affected man from the beginning.

My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh (Genesis 6:3 KJV).

After a few generations, humans start populating the Earth. It is during this time, that God notices that humans have grown especially wicked and only thought evil thoughts — all except for Noah. Noah is a good man and God recognizes this. He decides to flood the Earth to rid it of its corruption, but he spares Noah by telling him to build an arc for his family and animals.

This story shows that even though everyone around you may be sinning, you always have the option to please God and act differently. As a Christian, this is a duty that I am held responsible for. I know the scriptures and the teachings, so the punishment is worse if I do not follow them.

God is forgiving, however, and decides that:

Man’s heart is evil from its youth (Genesis 8:21 KJV).

God decides to establish a covenant with Noah and promises to never cut off the waters or flood all of humanity again.

The lesson here is that God knows what man is capable of and can forgive us. Establishing this covenant with Noah means that although we may sin, God will be understanding.

3. Trust God

Many generations after Noah, Abraham was born. Abraham heard a call from God to leave his country — Modern-day Iraq — and to go to a place where God would make a great nation for him — what is now Israel.

The Lord appeared unto Abraham, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him (Genesis 12:7 KJV).

Many people may wonder why God chooses Abraham. Unlike Noah, there is no mention of his righteousness or good character.

But there is a clear answer.

Abraham hears the call of God and follows it. How many people would leave the comfort of their homes and drop everything they know to follow in their faith?

Abraham immediately leaves for the unknown and trusts in God’s plan for him. When he gets to the new land, he also builds altars and honors God. His faith and devotion are so strong and apparent that God rewards him.

Many people feel the calling of God but they second guess it because they have work, family, or something else to tend to. Abraham ignored all his problems and just trusted in God and in turn, he was given a great blessing.

4. Don’t Lose Faith

There is another lesson about faith in the story of Abraham — but this time it is about his lack of faith.

The Lord promises Abraham generations that would be as abundant as the stars. Sarah, his wife, however, could not get pregnant. Instead of obeying trusting in God, Abraham listens to Sarah when she tells him to use her servant Ha’gar as a handmaid. Abraham gets her pregnant and has his first son, Ishmael.

God has different plans for Abraham. He specifically wants Abraham to have a child with Sarah. He wants to establish a covenant with that child. But Sarah is old and it is believed that she was barren. To everyone’s surprise, Sarah has a son and they called him Isaac.

God establishes his covenant with Isaac — but Abraham is upset over his other son Ishmael. He wants Ishmael to be blessed also. God is generous, and he gives Ishmael his blessing and promises to establish a great nation through him. But ultimately, Isaac receives the covenant of God.

This story shows how people may sometimes cut themselves short of their true greatness. God knows how special you are and he has a plan for you. Sometimes people do not think they are good enough and take an opportunity that is not their true calling. People must be patient and follow God’s will because he has so much more in store for them.

Just like Abraham lost faith in God and had Ishmael, many people do not have confidence in God’s plan and take a route in life that is beneath their greatness. If they trust in God, there is an Isaac waiting for them. God is generous, and still blesses Ishmael — but Isaac was destined for more greatness.

Conclusion

There are many valuable stories in Genesis that many Christians may have forgotten. While on the surface some of these stories appear unfair, if they are analyzed, they reveal the same loving God of Jesus.

I encourage everyone to look for the deeper meaning in these stories and discover them again for yourselves. 

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

Life at Gateway Seminary In-Person

 

I first enrolled at Gateway Seminary as an online student while teaching English in South Korea in August 2019. I remember my first week and studying so hard for my Old Testament Introduction 1 class and I got 6/10 on my first quiz. I was so upset about it and kept telling my wife that if I couldn't handle it, I might have to drop out of seminary. I talked about it for two days resulting in an argument with my wife. Week 2 turned out much better and from then on I have gotten the hang of studying at seminary and enjoying it. Up until now, I have had a 3.61 GPA. Thank you, Lord, for your mercies and for helping me persevere!

When my wife and I arrived in California on December 20, 2020, I kept studying online and it was fine for the time being until I took Hebrew 1 in Fall 2021. During the first week, it was so overwhelming and I had no idea how to handle that class online since the homework was about learning all of the vowels and consonants during the first week! My wife thought that I had better take Hebrew in person, so then we decided to look into student housing. I dropped the online Hebrew class and did well in my other two classes for that semester. 

We moved into student housing from my dad's home on December 19, 2021 (almost exactly a year later), I enrolled in Spring 2022 classes in person. Wow! What a difference it makes to take classes in person compared to online. It's just a much more enjoyable experience. I can interact with the professor and hear other students engage with the professor, ask questions during the lectures, go to the library, and even get coffee or snacks on campus. It's 10 times better being at school in person rather than learning online. 

Side note: Just imagine all of those poor kids having to go to school on Zoom rather than in-person and imagine the horrors that the teacher had to engage with 25 students on Zoom. I applaud those teachers that endured through it and pray that we never have to ask kids to take classes on Zoom again. 

To make a long story short, I have loved being on campus at Gateway Seminary. My wife and I have a nice apartment (Just $920/month for now until it goes up a bit in August) just big enough for us and the apartment is only 3 miles away from school. We're in an area with many choices of restaurants and I'm a caregiver of a patient that is only 4.7 miles away. I'm very thankful that the Lord has put us together in a good spot. The only negative is that our church is still in Santa Paula (2 hours away). I really don't know how that's going to work out once I start doing more church-related work next year for my practicum course. But Jesus is looking out for us and I'm certain that it will all come together somehow. 

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

Jesus is Seeking You Even If You Fell Away From Him (Luke 15:1-7)

 

Photo Courtesy: Romo Aloysius Budi Purnomo Pr (http://www.sesawi.net)

Sermon: April 28, 2022 

 

Story: I remember as a kid playing with my little Hot Wheels cars. I played with about 10 or 20 cars at a time. And on occasion, one would roll under the couch or get lost. And what did I do? I got upset and I did whatever I could to find that car even though I still had a whole collection of Hot Wheels cars. And if I lost it completely at the beach or at the park, my mom might say, “Son, we can get you another one just like it.” But I would say to her, “But it’s not the same. That car was special to me.”

 

Well, this is very similar in the way that Jesus views us. He cares about us so much and is very concerned if one of us is far away from him or needs restoration with Him.

 

(Read text)

 

Text:

 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

 

There are three principles we can take today that show how Jesus is concerned deeply for believers that have fallen away from him.

 

 

#1. You are God’s prized possession.

 

In Luke 15 verse 3, Jesus begins the parable, and He understands his audience. The house owner, who in that agrarian society would also be a farmer and owner of animals, is asked to compare himself or herself to a shepherd who has lost an animal. 

 

Sheep are always important to a shepherd, but when one is lost, its value is intensified. Money is always important to a person on a fixed income, but when a significant portion is lost, it is sorely missed.

 

Jesus says that in the parable, the farmer leaves the 99 sheep and put all of his attention into finding that one lost sheep. He didn’t say, “Oh it’s just one sheep. I still have enough. I have 99 left.” If you had 10 children and one of them was lost, wouldn’t you seek after that one child until he/she is found. Absolutely! That’s how God feels about us.

 

Story: I remember being lost at a swap meet one time when I was a child. I was panicking, crying, and had no idea where my mom was. I felt so helpless and was scared. But just imagine how my mom felt! The people at the swap meet called out on a loudspeaker and the whole place could hear the message. They said there was a lost child looking for his mom. I remember my mom coming over quickly, squeezing me so tight, and being so thankful to the people that worked there. She valued me so much. Just imagine how much Jesus values you!

 

What’s another way to know that Jesus is concerned for you if you fall away from him? #2 If just one of the people that he himself created strays away from him, he will seek that person until you decide to follow Him again.

 

 We don’t seek Jesus. He seeks us. In Luke 19:1-10, we see a chief tax collector by the name of Zacchaeus, who knew Jesus was passing through Jericho. But he was so short that he climbed a sycamore fig tree to get a better look at him. Jesus comes near the tree, tells Zacchaeus to come down and tells him that he must stay at his house. People began to mutter to themselves, “Why is he going to a sinner’s house?” Tax collectors were also lowly in society, yet Jesus didn’t care about his status.

 

 Zacchaeus welcomes him gladly to his home, tells Jesus he gave away half of his possessions, and if he cheated anyone, he would pay him pack 4 times the amount. The man is saved immediately, and Jesus confirms why in verse 10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Remember! Zacchaeus didn’t invite Jesus to his home first. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus first and told him that he had to go to his home. He saw that Zacchaeus was curious about him and realized his heart could be changed. 

 

Also, Jesus confirms how he seeks us shortly before his death. Jesus told his closest followers in John 15:16, during what is now down as the Last Supper, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide in me.

 

And this is a reminder for Christians. If you know someone that doesn’t know Jesus or has fallen away from God, you need to pray for them and do your best to seek them out. 

 

Story: When I was in elementary school, my grandma vowed that she would never become a Christian because her boss was a Christian and didn’t care about her employees very well. However, when I had my high school graduation, a pastor preached at my graduation and I remember my grandma saying, “He almost made me want to go to church.” A light bulb went off in my mind and I saw hope that I could get my grandma to attend one church service. I prayed about it and prayed about it and when I was in college, my grandma finally agreed to attend a service with me. But even more impressive was that she started attending a Bible study with my grandpa and she got saved! Just as Jesus never gives up on people, we also need to have hope and pray for those closest to us to know Jesus more.

 

What is another way to know that Jesus is concerned if you fall away from him? #3, When you do find him, Jesus has overflowing joy that he cannot contain by himself.

 

Looking at verse 7 it says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Verse 10 repeats this when it says, “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 

Notice that in these verses we see that the farmer joyfully puts that sheep on his shoulders and goes home. But he is struck with so much joy that he has to release it somehow, so what does he do? He calls his friends and neighbors and tells them to rejoice with him since he found his lost sheep. Can you imagine how I felt when my grandma was saved? It was the best feeling in the world for me and I couldn’t wait to tell my friends and my mom. It’s still one of the best memories of my life.

 

Do you know someone that hasn’t been to church in a while or do you know someone that might be frustrated with their walk with Christ? Maybe that person is you and you just don’t want to be in church right now. Jesus is wanting you to come back to him. He wants that intimacy and relationship with you again and he wants you to be honest with your feelings. He will comfort you and restore you.

 

Satan doesn’t want you to restore that relationship with Jesus. He tried hard to get Job to disown God. He will deceive you to turn you against Jesus like he did to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But the Lord wants you to heal that relationship with Him and restore you like e did with Job.

 

If you are a Christian but haven’t had a relationship with the Lord in a long time, remember that Jesus loves you. Life can be difficult, but you need to cling to him because you can’t accomplish anything in this life without him. Maybe someone close to you has had failing health, maybe you’re having a hard time paying the bills, or you’re just overwhelmed with family issues. Don’t give up on the Lord. He knows how hard life is because he experienced ridicule, torture, and even death just for our sake. And he is waiting to put his arms around you and be full of joy when you come back to him. 

 

Later on in Luke 15, we see that the Prodigal Son abandoned his father to enjoy a life of indulgence and partying and wasted all his money on himself and got hungry. What did the son do? He went back to his father because he had nowhere to go. However, he planned to repent of what he did. In verses 18 and 19 it says, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” You can see the humility and guilt there. 

 

Did the father criticize or rebuke him? No. When he saw his son from a distance, he ran up to him and embraced him, kissed him, put the best robe on him, a ring on him, and put shoes on his feet. But not only that, the father got a fattened calf and celebrated his homecoming! That’s how Jesus will feel when you turn back to him. His arms are open wide for you!

 

I have a verse for you: Acts 3:19-21: ^“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.²¹ Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

 

The Lord wants to refresh and restore you and wipe your sins clean again.

 

If you aren’t a Christian, it is still your decision to follow Jesus or not. He will never force you to do anything you don’t want to do. You need to realize that Jesus loves you no matter what kind of person you are, what kind of sins you have committed, and what kinds of regrets you might have in your past. It can all be made clean today by committing your life to the one who is seeking you with all of his heart. If you make that commitment today, not only will Jesus be full of joy, but ALL of Heaven will be rejoicing, the angels will be singing, and you will be with Jesus in eternity. 

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy

 

 

A Hidden Gem of a City in California: Ojai

 

The city of Ojai, California is 12 miles north of Ventura and 63 miles northwest of Los Angeles and has a population of 7,613 people. It was named after a Native American term meaning "moon" when the Chumash tribe originally inhabited it. It was originally named Nordoff, but was changed to Ojai in 1917 and became incorporated as a city in 1921. 

When my wife and I lived in Santa Paula, which is 16 miles northwest of Ojai, my wife and I would take a drive through Highway 150 and enjoy the peaceful drive through Ojai. There aren't a lot of things to do in the city of Ojai itself, but it does have some small clothing stores, a book store, a few restaurants, an ice cream shop, and a small park in the center of the city. One time we took a drive at sunset and we took a few shots of the rural area of Ojai before eating dinner.

Then we stopped off at Boccalli's Pizza, which is a family-run place. The people that work there are really friendly, so we stayed and ordered a pizza there. We were in the mood for a Hawaiian pizza, so we got one of those. Although they used canned pineapple on the pizza, it was still good and the service was excellent. I'd go back and try the pasta or another kind of pizza next time.

After that, we took a drive back to Santa Paula and we arrived at the most famous area of Ojai that looks over Ojai Valley. It was night time already, but the views were really nice and had to check out the stars that illuminated.

The drive from Santa Paula to Ojai has some curves as you go through the mountains, but on Friday or Saturday evenings, there is very little traffic. From Fillmore, you take the 126 West to Santa Paula and get off at 10th Street (Highway 150). Then you head east for 16 miles until you get to Ojai. If you drive from Ventura to Ojai, you can take the 101 north to the 33 before you hit Highway 150. You will then drive through a couple of small towns Casitas Springs (hometown of Johnny Cash) and Oak View before getting to Ojai. 

Scott Worden (The L.A./Seoul Guy)

Instagram: l.a.seoulguy